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Kaziranga became a game sanctuary in 1916, a wildlife sanctuary in
1950, then a National Park in 1974. It was declared a World
Heritage site by UNESCO in 1985 but has had a history of
conservation for over 100 years. The main purpose of the park is
to protect and conserve the surviving population of the one horned
Indian rhinoceros. While Manas National Park was closed in the
late 90’s due to political turmoil Kaziranga became the most
important park in NE India. It has over 80 percent of the Indian
rhino population within its boundary as well as a healthy
elephant.
The park covers 430 sq km of marshland, flat grassland and
semi-evergreen forests which are constantly managed to maintain an
ideal habitat for Kaziranga's wildlife. This wildlife includes a
large population of wild elephants, Indian bison, swamp deer (barasingha),
hog deer, sloth bears, tigers, leopard cats, jungle cats, otters,
hog badgers, capped langurs, hoolock gibbons, wild boar, jackal,
wild buffalo, pythons, monitor lizards and of course the one
horned rhino.
Due to its location in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River
each monsoon sees the water level rise and large areas of the park
become flooded. The silt deposits help maintain the fertility of
the land, the large areas of ‘elephant grass’ are managed by a
process of strategic burning during late February and early March
and the new growth then provides a source of food for the one
horned rhino and other grazers.
Kaziranga is a birding paradise, the number of raptors for example
that can be seen on safari is remarkable. These include the
oriental honey buzzard, black-shouldered kite, black kite,
brahminy kite, Pallas's fishing eagle, white tailed eagle,
grey-headed fishing eagle, himalayan griffon, short-toed snake
eagle, crested serpent eagle, pied harrier, long-legged buzzard,
changeable hawk eagle and rufous-bellied eagle. During the winter
huge numbers of migratory birds descend on the parks lakes and
bheels (marshy areas). These include greylag geese, bar-headed
geese, ruddy shelduck, gadwall, falcated duck, red-crested pochard
and northern shoveller. Three different species of hornbills can
be seen within the park, as well as pelicans and the rare bengal
florican.
There are two ways to view wildlife inside the park. Elephant
safaris depart early in the morning from the central range and
head off into the tall grass named after them. This is ideal for
viewing and photographing rhino and it is common to come across
quite large groups grazing together. From your high vantage point
you will also get good views of hog deer, barasingha and wild
buffalo, and if extremely lucky a glimpse of the elusive tiger.
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