Why is Kaziranga National Park famous?
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Why is Kaziranga National Park famous?

Kaziranga National Park, located in the heart of Assam, India, is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of successful wildlife conservation. It is celebrated for hosting two-thirds of the world’s population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, a species that once teetered on the brink of extinction. The park’s establishment dates back to 1905, and it spans an area of 1,090 square kilometers across the Golaghat and Nagaon districts, representing a significant portion of the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.

The park’s fame is attributed to its rich biodiversity and the successful preservation of several endangered species. Besides the iconic Indian rhinoceros, Kaziranga is home to other threatened animals such as tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. The park was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006, highlighting its importance as a critical habitat for this majestic predator.

Kaziranga’s landscape is a mosaic of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests, intersected by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra. This diverse ecosystem supports a variety of flora and fauna, making it an Important Bird Area recognized by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species.

The park’s success in wildlife conservation is evident in the growth of the rhino population, which increased from 2,401 in 2015 to 2,613 by March 2018. This population includes 1,641 adult rhinos, 387 sub-adults, and 385 calves, according to a census conducted by the Forest Department of the Government of Assam and various wildlife NGOs.

Kaziranga’s conservation strategies have not been without controversy. In 2017, a BBC News documentary criticized the park’s ‘shoot-at-sight’ policy for poachers, which led to the killing of 20 people a year in the name of rhino conservation. This report resulted in a ban on BBC News from filming in protected areas in India for five years. However, the BBC stood by its report, and the incident sparked a debate on the effectiveness and ethics of such hardliner conservation methods.

Despite the challenges, Kaziranga National Park remains a testament to the resilience of nature when given a chance to recover. Its undisturbed natural beauty and the thriving populations of its resident species are a beacon of hope for conservationists worldwide. The park continues to attract visitors and researchers who are eager to witness its wildlife and contribute to its ongoing preservation efforts.

In summary, Kaziranga National Park is famous for its significant role in saving the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, its status as a biodiversity hotspot, and its contribution to global conservation efforts. It stands as a remarkable example of how dedicated conservation initiatives can lead to the recovery and protection of endangered species and their habitats.