Kaziranga National Park

The name 'Kaziranga National Park' brings to your mind, a park full of animals and birds, living freely in their natural habitat. This World Heritage Site was established in 1905. In the year 2006, Kaziranga National Park was honored to be the Tiger Reserve. Amongst the protected areas on the planet, tigers are found in greatest majority in Kaziranga National Park. To add to its glory, Birdlife International for protection of avifaunal species has recognized it as an imperative bird area. More about Kaziranga National Park is cited in the following account.

Geographical Location and best time to visit Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park is located in the north eastern state-Assam. If you are planning a trip to this place then it will be good to schedule it somewhere between November to April.

History of Kaziranga National Park

It was in the year 1904 when Mary Victoria Leiter Curzon, Lord Curzon's wife (Lord Curzon was the then Viceroy of India), came to this area. The area was famous for one-horned rhinoceros but she couldn't find any. She convinced her husband to take immediate steps to protect the diminishing species. Lord Curzon initiated a plan in the same direction. It was on June 1, 1905, when Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was shaped.

Kaziranga was selected as a 'Reserve Forest' in 1908. It was transformed into 'Kaziranga Game Sanctuary' in 1916. It enjoyed this position till 1938. Then visitors were allowed inside the park and hunting was banned. In 1950, it was named as 'Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary'.

Assam government passed the Assam (Rhinoceros) Bill in 1954. It made rhinoceros' poaching a punishable offence. 'The Assam National Park Act of 1968' was passed in 1968 which declared Kaziranga as a chosen national park. On February 11, 1974, the central government provided this park with an official status. UNESCO declared it a 'World Heritage Site' in 1985.

In some latest bygone decades, Kaziranga had to face many calamities. The year 2007, witnessed the first relocation of elephants between National Parks of India when elephants and two rhinoceros were relocated to Manas National Park.

Wildlife in the Park

There are 35 species of mammals in Kaziranga National Park which are significantly bred. The IUCN Red List has declared 13 of them as threatened. Among the minority areas other than Africa, Kaziranga registers its name for breeding several large cat species. The park houses the largest groups of one-horned rhinoceroses in the world; Eastern Swamp Deer and Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo. Indian Muntjac, hog deer, elephants and wild boar are also there in large numbers. Nine primates that occur in India are in this park. Ganges Dolphin is also given shelter in Kaziranga. Indian Grey Mongoose, Bengal Fox, Large Indian Civet, Hog Badger, Sloth Bear, Parti-colored Flying Squirrels and Hispid Hare are some of the rare mammals that are found in Kaziranga.

A range of water birds, scavengers, migratory birds, game birds, riverine birds, predators and some threatened species of birds are found in Kaziranga.

World's longest noxious snake and two of the largest snakes are housed in this park. Russel's Viper and Two species of Cobra are also found here. Species of Monitor Lizard, 42 fish species, turtle's fifteen species and one tortoise's species inhabit the park.

This park has most successfully done the wildlife conservation among all the protected areas in the country. The area of Kaziranga National Park is an enormous expanse of marshland, thick tropical forests, tall elephant grass has a network of four major rivers which include the River Brahmaputra.

Kaziranga National Park celebrates the importance of India in the whole world. A visit here is a memory to cherish always.