THE KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK- THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK OF ASSAM

WHY IS KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK SO FAMOUS? WHAT IS THE FAMOUS IN KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK? WHEN WAS KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK FOUNDED? WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE FACTS ABOUT KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK? WHAT IS THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF ASSAM? WHAT IS THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK OF THE ASSAM? WHICH RIVER PASSES THROUGH THE KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK?

The Kaziranga National Park 

THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK OF ASSAM AND FAMOUS FOR THE RARE GREAT INDIAN ONE HORN RHINOCEROS THE KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK  

LOCATION/ ESTABLISHMENT/ LATITUDE/ ALTITUTE

        The Kaziranga National Park is located in Nagaon and Golaghat districts in the state of Assam. The Kaziranga National Park is established in the year 1908. This National Park is recognized as a ‘’WORLD HERITAGE SITE’’ by UNESCO since 1985. The Kaziranga National Park hosts for the 2/3RD of the World’s Great Indian One Horn Rhinoceros(Rhinoceros unicornis). The Kaziranga National Park is the home to the highest density of tigers among protected areas of the World and was declared as a TIGER RESERVE in the year 2006. This National park is also home to the large breeding population of elephants, wild water buffaloes and swamp deer as well as aquatic species River Dolphin. The Kaziranga is recognized as an important bird area by Birdlife International(NGO) for conservation of avifaunal species.

        The Kaziranga National Park is located between latitudes 26°30’N to 26°45’N and longitudes 93°08’E to 93°36’E within the two districts of Assam i.e. Nagaon district (Koliabor Sub-division) and Golaghat district (Bokakhat Sub-division). The Kaziranga National Park covers an area of about 430 sq.km. The kaziranga National Park is mainly flat with altitude ranging from 131-262 feet with the exception of Mikir hills to the South of the National Park and it is about 4000 feet in altitude. The National Park is circumscribed by the Brahmaputra River which forms the Northern and Eastern boundaries and Mora diphlu River (is a tributary of Diphlu River which originates from the Karbi-Anglong district of Assam State and passes through the Kaziranga National Park and this river joins the Brahmaputra river on the south bank) which forms the Southern boundary. The notable Rivers of The Kaziranga National Park are Mora Dhonsiri River and Diphlu River.

        The Kaziranga National park is divided into mainly four zones or ranges for the safari by the visitors or tourist. The four zones are- The Central Zone or Kohora Zone, The Western Zone or Bagori Zone, The Eastern Zone or Agaratoli Zone, The Burapahar Safari Zone.

THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK OF ASSAM AND FAMOUS FOR THE RARE GREAT INDIAN ONE HORN RHINOCEROS-THE KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK HISTORY IN DETAILS

THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF ASSAM FAMOUS KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

        The history of Kaziranga National Park as a protected area can be traced back to 1904, when Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston, the wife of the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon of Kedleston visited the area. After failing to see even a single rhinoceros for which the area was renowned, she urged her husband to take urgent measures to protect the animals by irritating a plan for its protection. 

        Afterthat On 1st June, 1905, the Kaziranga proposed Reserved Forest was created with an area of 232 square kilometre. In 1908 Kaziranga was designated as a Reserve Forest. In 1916, it was redesignated as the Kaziranga game Sanctuary and remained so till 1938. The Kaziranga Game Sanctuary was renamed as the Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary in 1950 by P.D. Stracey, in order to get rid of the hunting connotation. In 1968 the state government passed the Assam National Park act 1968 was declared Kaziranga as a National Park. The 430 square kilometre park was given official status by the central government on 11 February 1974. In 1985 Kaziranga was declared as the World Heritage site by UNESCO for its unique natural environment.

        The proposal to declare Kaziranga as a National Park was taken up by the Chief Conservator of forest, P.Baruah. To achieve mainly this object that is, The Assam National Park Act of 1968 was passed by the Government of Assam as there was no provision to create a National Park under the existing forests Regulations. The Kaziranga National Park was established on 11 February, 1974 with an area of around 429.93 square kilometre vide notification No. FOR/WL/722/68.

        Later several new areas were added to this Kaziranga National Park. The first(1st) addition (area 43.79 sq.km. on 28 May 1977), the second(2nd) addition (area 6.47 sq.km. vide preliminary notification on 10th July 1985), the third(3rd) addition(area 0.69sq.km.on 31 May 1985), the fouth(4th) addition (area 0.89 sq.km. on 3rd August 1988), the fifth addition (area 1.15 sq.km. on 13 June 1985) and the sixth addition (area 376.50sq.km. on 7th August 1999) were made. Two Reserve Forests Panbari 1,894 acres(8 sq.km.) and Kukurakata 3,936 acres(16 sq.km.) also came under the administrative control of the Kaziranga National Park.

        The Kaziranga National Park was formally became a Reserve Forest in 1908, A Game Sanctuary in 1916 and the Park was close officially for shooting in 1926. The Kaziranga National Park was thrown open to visitors or tourists in 1938. After the independence of India(1947), Kaziranga was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950. In 1954, The Assam Legislative Assembly gave the one horn Rhinoceros legal protection through the Assam (Rhinoceros) Bill that laid down strict penalties for killing any of them. In 1974, The Kaziranga was designated a National park, it is the First National Park in the State of Assam. UNESCO declared Kaziranga a World Heritage Site in 1985. Additional lands have been incorporated into the park and a proposal to add some 454.50 sq.km. has been put forward to include the adjoining section of the Brahmaputra River to the North and part of the Mikir Hills to the South to provide a protected refuge where animals may take shelter during floods.

        Before 1950 the visitors facilities were limited and the accommodations consisted mainly of a Public Works Department Inspection Bungalow at Kaziranga and a Forest Rest House at Baguri. These accomodations were found highly inadequate to meet the demands of increasing number of visiotors (tourists) to the National Park. Solutions implemented for this problem were one visitor’s camp at Kaziranga and later on two tourist lodge, constructed by the department on a small hillock at Kohora as well as one Forest Rest House constructed at Arimora. The management of these two Tourist lodges was handed over to the State Tourism Department in 1963 after the creation of this department under the Government of Assam.

        Unlike Manas National Park in Assam, the ULFA separatist movement in Assam did not affect the Park’s wildlife or tourism adversely, in fact it has been reported that the ULFA tried and executed Rhinoceros Poachers in the late 1980s.

        Severe losses to the number of wildlife occurred during the devastating disaster floods, events worth mention include the floods of 1973 in which several wild animals were killed. In 1988 a devastating flood ravaged the Kaziranga National Park in which 70% of the park was submerged under killing 38 Rhinoceros including 23 Calves, 1,050 Deer, 69 Wild Boar, 3 Baby Elephants, 2 tigers and numerous smaller both flora and fauna species. In 1996, 44 one horn Rhinoceros were killed by extreme floods. In 1998 due to continuous heavy rainfall the Brahmaputra River flooded and parts of the National Park was under 6 meters of water. More than a square kilometre area of the flood plain was washed away, an estimated 652 animals including 42 Rhinoceros were lost. During that time World Wildlife Fund(WWF is a conservation organization) India provided materials assistance and the Indian army constructed ten islands on high ground for wildlife. The park celebrated its centenary with much fanfare in 2005, inviting descendants of Baroness and Lord Curzon for the celebrations and combining the celebrations with the annual Kaziranga Elephant Festival. 

RESERVE FOREST:

        In the early nineteenth-century the area around what is now Kaziranga National Park was not well settled. The Park was notorious for wild animals, Malaria, frequent floods and unpredictable changes of the course of the Brahmaputra river. Historical records of the forest called Kaziranga date to the 17th century. Several local legends relate to the origin of its name but historian suggest that the name relate to Karbi, a woman who ruled the region at one time. With the rise of the tea industry in Assam, slowly the forest in the area were cleared for settlements and tea plantation. The local villagers practiced some slash and burn cultivation while the British established small permanent colonies for tea cultivation. 

        The history of protection in Kaziranga dates back to the early 20th century, when Baroness Mary Victoria leiter Curzon- an American who was the wife of Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, first visited the Kaziranga area in 1904. Kaziranga had been renowned for its rhinoceros pollution, however during her trips in the region, Baroness Curzon failed to see any rhinoceros, seeing only some hoof marks. 

        It is rumoured that the noted Assamese animal tracker, Balaram Hazarika, showed Baroness Curzon around Kaziranga and impressed upon her urgent need for conservation of the wildlife. Concerned about the dwindling numbers of rhinoceros, She asked her husband to take the necessary action to save the rhinoceros which he did on November 4, 1904 when he proposed the creation of a reserve in Kaziranga.

        Thus the Kaziranga proposed reserve forest was created on 57,273.6 acres(232 square kilometre) of land, on June 1 1995 by notification of the chief commissioner of the area. 

        A proposal soon was made to extend Kaziranga reserve forest by including a piece of land to the east of the existing reserve towards the Bokakhat Dhansirimukh road. local people objected to this as their rights regarding such things as grazing, fishing collection of canes, firewood would be in danger. The European community of tree planters also objected to the proposal mainly on the ground s that the area available for big game hunts would be greatly reduced. Another objection wasthat during the rainy season there has been a good deal of boating down the Diphlu River and the Mora Dhansiri River through which tea from the neighboring tea garden was taken to the Brahmaputra River. At last with the intervention of the forest settlement officer and the deputy commissioner, Sibsagar district Major A. Playfair, an area of 13,506 acres(55 square kilometre) was added to the Kaziranga reserve vide notifications No. 295R dated 28 January 1913.

        In later years another proposal was made rlto add extra land towards the North of the reserve to provide shelter for the wild animals during flooding as the ground was comparatively higher and also to protect the wild animals from the danger of possible epidemics spreading through the domestic livestock. The presence ofba large number of domestic Buffaloes belonging to Nepali grazers in the proposed area caused much delay in the final making in the Reserve Forest, however the Chief Commissioner decided in favour of making the reserve and finally an area of 37,529acres(151 square kilometre) of land extending the Kaziranga reserve up to the Brahmaputra River was notified video notifications no. 3560 R dated the 26 July 1917.

THE FOUR ZONES OR RANGE OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK OF ASSAM

Central Range:

This Central Range or zone is also known as the Kohora Range. The entry gate to the Central zone of the Kaziranga National Park is located in the small town of Kohora around 2 kilometre from the bus stop at the National Highway. The Central Zone starts from the Mihimukh riding tower which is the Elephant safari point.

Western Range:

This Western Range or zone is also known as the Bagori Range. The entry gate to the western zone of the Kaziranga National Park is located at the place named Bagori at the Kaziranga. The Bagori tourism office is the starting point of this zone from where tourists can take the ride of elephant safari and Jeep safari to explore the forest. The western zone is the most preferred tourism zone in Kaziranga for the elephant safari as the landscape of this zone provides the opportunity to get the very close sight of the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros.

Eastern Range:

The Eastern Range or zone is also known as the Agaratoli Range. The entry gate of the Eastern Zone or Agaratoli Range of the Kaziranga National park is situated in the small town of Agaratoli which is located on the National highway . The Agaratoli tourism office is the starting point of this Eastern Zone and the jeep safari is organized in this Agaratoli Zone. The Eastern Zone also offers boat safari inside the park which can be wonderful experience to explore the wildlife around the water bodies of the Kaziranga park. The Eastern or Agaratoli zone is home to numerous exotic water birds which can be viewed perfectly using the binocular.

Burapahar Range:

The entry gate of the Burapahar Range or zone of the Kaziranga National Park is located at the Ghorakati village. The Rhinoland Park is the starting point of the jeep safari in the Burapahar zone. The Burapahar tourism zone is the hilly terrain with beautiful attractive scenery of nature and also considered best for building . The Burapahar zone also offers the trekking in the forest on the designated route which can be a very enriching experience to explore the dense forest so close by walking on foot and is the best idea to get the feeling of closeness of nature.

THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK OF ASSAM AND FAMOUS FOR THE RARE GREAT INDIAN ONE HORN RHINOCEROS-THE KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

        The Kaziranga National Park contains significant breeding populations of 35 different mammalian species of which 15 are threatened as per the IUCN Red List(International Union for Conservation of Nature that was established on 5th october, 1948). The Kaziranga National Park has the distinction of being home to the World’s largest population of the Great Indian One Horn Rhinoceros (1,855), Wild Asiatic Buffaloes(1,666) and Eastern Swamp Deers(468). Significant sizable population of large herbivorous animals mainly includes Elephants (1,940), Gaur(30) and Sambar(58). Small herbivorous species includes the Indian Muntjak or barking Deer, Wild Boar(Sus scrofa) and Hog Deer(Axis porcinus). Kaziranga has the largest population of the Wild Water buffalo(Bubalus arnee) anywhere accounting about 57% of the World’s populations.

        Kaziranga is one of the few wild breeding areas outside Africa for various species of large cats, such as Indian Tiger and Leopards. Kaziranga was declared as a Tiger Reserve Forest in 2006 and has the highest density of tiger in the world (one per five square kilometer) with a population of 86, as per the 2000 census. Other field includes the jungle cat(Felis chaus), Fishing cat(Felis viverrina) and Leopard Cats.

Small mammals includes 

The rare Hispid Hare,

Indian Gray Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsi),

Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus), 

Large Indian Civets (Viverra zibetha),

Particolored Flying Squirrels,

Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus),

Chinese Pangolin,

Indian Pangolins,

Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris),

Chinese ferret Badgers (Melogale Moschata)

Bengal Fox (Vulpes bengalensis),

Golden Jackal(Canis aureus) ,

         Nine of the 14 primate species (a member of the mammalian order) found in India occur in the Kaziranga National Park. Prominent among them are the Assamese Macaque (Macaca assamensis), Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) and Golden Langur as well as the only ape found in India –The Hoolock Gibbon. Kaziranga’s Rivers are also home to the endangered Ganges Dolphin.

        The Kaziranga National Park has been identified by Birdlife International as an important bird area. This National Park is a home to a variety of migratory birds, predators, scavengers and game birds, water birds. Some important birds such as The Lesser Whitefronted Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Baer’s Poachard Duck , Lesser Adjutant, Greater Adjutant, black Necked Stork migrate from central Asia to The Kaziranga Park during winter. Riverine birds include the Blyth’s Kingfisher, White Bellied heron, Dalmatian Pelican, Spot billed Pelican , Nordmann’s Greenshank and black bellied Tern. Birds of prey include the rare Eastern Imperial, Greater Spotted, Whitetailed Pallas’s Fish eagle, Grey headed Fish Eagle and the Lesser Kestrel etc.

        The Kaziranga National Park was once home of seven species of vulture populations reached near extinction, supposedly by feeding on animal carcasses the drug Diclofenac. Only the Indian vulture, Slender billed Vulture and Indian white rumped vulture have survived. Game birds include the Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican and Pale capped Pigeon.

        Other families of birds inhabiting kaziranga include the Great Indian Hornbill (Bureros bicornis) and Wreathed Hornbill, Old World warblers such as Jerdon’s and Marsh Babblers, weaver birds such as the common Baya Weaver, Threatened Finn’s Weavers, thrushes such as Hodgson’s Bushchat and Old World warblers such as the Bristled Grassbird(Schoenicola striatus). Other threatened species include the Black breasted Parrot bill and the Rufous vented prinia (Laticilla burnesi).

        Two of the largest snake in the World, the Reticulated Python and Indian Pythone as well as the longest venomous snake in the world. The king cobra, inhabit the park. Other snakes found here include The Indian Cobra, Monocled Cobra, Russell’s Viper and the common Krait. Monitor lizard species found in the park include the Bengal Monitor and the Water Monitor. Other reptiles includes fifteen species of turtle such as the endemic Assam Roofed Turtle and one species of Tortoise-The Brown Tortoise. 42 species of fishes are found in the area including the Tetradon (Paracheirodon innesi)

FLORA OF KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK:

        Four main types of vegetation exist in the park. These are alluvial inundated grasslands, alluvial Savannah woodland, tropical moist mixed deciduous forest and tropical semi evergreen forest. Based on landsite data for 1986, percent coverage by vegetation is - tall grasses 41%, short grasses 11% , open jungle 29% , swamps 4%, rivers and water bodies 9% and sand 6%.

        There is a difference in altitude between the Eastern and western areas of them park with the Western side being at a lower altitude. The Western reaches of the park are dominated by grasslands. Y'all elephant grass is found on higher ground, while short grasses cover the lower ground surrounding the beels or flood created ponds. Annual flooding, grazing by herbivore and controlled burning maintain and fertilize the grasslands and reeds. Common tall grasses are sugarcane, spear grass, elephant grass and the common reed. Numerous forbs are present along with the grasses. Amidst the grasses, providing cover and shade are scattered trees- dominant species including kumbhi, Indian gooseberry, the cotton Tree( in savana woodland) and elephant apple(in inundated grasslands). 

        Thick evergreen forest near the Kanchanjhuri, Panbari and Tamulipathar blocks contain trees such as Aphanamixis, Polystachya, Talauna, Hodgsonii, Dillenia indica, Garcinia tinctiria, Ficus rumphii, Cinnamomum bejolghjota and species of Syzygium. Tropical semi evergreen forest are present near Baguri, Bimali and Hadhibari. Common trees and shrubs are Albiziz procera, Duabanga grandiflora, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Crateva unilocularies, SterculiThick evergreen forest near the Kanchanjhuri, Panbari and Tamulipathar blocks contain trees such as Aphanamixis, Polystachya, Talauna, Hodgsonii, Dillenia indica, Garcinia tinctiria, Ficus rumphii, Cinnamomum bejolghjota and species of Syzygium. Tropical semi evergreen forest are present near Baguri, Bimali and Hadhibari. Common trees and shrubs are Albiziz procera, Duabanga grandiflora, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Crateva unilocularies, Sterculia urens, Grewia serrulata, Mallotus philippensis, Bridelia retusa, Aphania rubra, leea indica, and Leea umbraculifera. 

       There are many aquatic floras in the lakes and ponds and along the rivershores. The invasive water hyacinth is very common often choking the water bodies but it is cleared during destructive floods. Another invasive species is Mimosa invisa which is toxic to herbivores was cleared by Kaziranga staff with the help from the wildlife Trust of India in 2005.

 

PROBLEMS THAT ARE RELATED WITH THE KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

       Some main problems that are relates with the Kaziranga National Park along with their control measures are given below

Floods:

We all know that flood is the main and the major destructive problem of the entire Assam and the impacts of flood occurred on the life of wild animals of The Kaziranga National Park. Every year due to the extreme floods in the Kaziranga National Park different species of fauna along with flora .species died. This problem can be solved by using a proper relocation process or also by making high hill areas inside the park for wild animals to stay during the time of floods and in this process floods alert system can also help. 

Accident:

Every years around hundreds of wild animals died due to road accidents, such accident occurs due to high speeding vehicles on the nearest road NH37. There are actually no proper barriers resulting in wild animals trying to cross the National Highway and thus lots of accidents occurs in that place. This problem can be solved by using a proper barrier at the region of National Highway near to the Kaziranga National Park and the management body of Kaziranga park take the steps in controlling the speeds of vehicles by providing the speed breakers in the National highway. 

Road communication:

Road communication networks under the Kaziranga National Park is too bad for safari(mainly jeep safari) ride to visit the animals which need to construct for a satisfying and suitable safari experience which will be good for visitors or tourists. 

Hunting of wild animals:

Now-a-days, hunting of Wild animals such as the great one horn Rhinoceros, elephant etc. is a major problems of The Kaziranga National Park. So in this point, the management body of Kaziranga should take some strict security forces to prevent such hunting of wild animals.