Kaziranga History

Overview

Kaziranga National Park, located in the northeastern state of Assam in India, is one of the most famous wildlife reserves in the world. The park is widely known for its large population of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros and its rich biodiversity. Spread across the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, Kaziranga has become a symbol of successful wildlife conservation in India.

The history of Kaziranga dates back to the early 1900s. In 1904, Mary Curzon, the wife of the then Viceroy of India Lord Curzon, visited this region. She was deeply concerned after learning that the population of the one-horned rhinoceros had drastically declined due to excessive hunting and habitat destruction. Her concern led to the initiative to protect the area and its wildlife.

As a result of these conservation efforts, Kaziranga was officially declared a Reserve Forest in 1905. Initially, the protected area covered only about 232 square kilometers. Over time, the boundaries of the park were expanded to include more habitats and wildlife corridors to ensure better protection of animals and plant species.

Development of the National Park

In 1916, Kaziranga was declared a Game Sanctuary to regulate hunting activities in the region. Later, in 1950, after India's independence, the name was changed to Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary. Continuous conservation efforts and strict wildlife protection laws helped improve the population of many endangered species.

In 1974, Kaziranga was officially declared a National Park by the Government of India. This gave the park stronger legal protection and increased attention toward wildlife conservation. Since then, the park has continued to grow in importance as one of the country's leading protected areas.

UNESCO World Heritage Recognition

Kaziranga National Park gained international recognition in 1985 when it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This recognition was given because of the park's unique ecosystem, diverse wildlife population, and its success in protecting the endangered one-horned rhinoceros.

Today, Kaziranga is home to a wide variety of animals including Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, and numerous bird species. The park also contains dense forests, tall elephant grasslands, wetlands, and river systems that support its rich biodiversity.

Modern Conservation Efforts

Modern conservation programs in Kaziranga focus on anti-poaching measures, habitat protection, community involvement, and wildlife monitoring. Forest guards and wildlife authorities work continuously to protect animals from illegal hunting and environmental threats.

Today, Kaziranga National Park stands as a global example of successful wildlife conservation. Its history reflects more than a century of dedication toward protecting nature and maintaining ecological balance. Visitors from around the world come here to experience its natural beauty and witness the incredible wildlife that thrives within this protected landscape.

Safari Zones in Kaziranga National Park :-

Kohora (Central) Range : The Central Zone in the Kaziranga National Park is one of the core areas of the park and preferred zone for Jeep and Elephant ride. The probability of seeing Tiger, One-Horned Rhinos, Wild buffalo and Swap Deer is high here.

Bagori (Western) Range : Bagori Ecotourism Range of the KNP is also known for for best wildlife sighting. The zone has the magnificently beautiful landscape with an abundance of wildlife species and lush greenery. Due to presence of water body (Pond) inside the Bagori attracts animals to quench their thrust. Most of the animals such as Rhino, Tiger and other species are easily sighted.

Agaratoli (Eastern) Range : Eastern side of the Kaziranga National Park along the national highway is Agaratoli Range. One Jeep Safari ride is permissible here. It is noted zone for wildlife photographers.

Burapahar (Ghorakati) Range : Burapahar is located around 40 kms from Central Range. The entry gate of this zone is located in the village of Ghorakati on the National Highway. It is known Zone for Jeep Ride, Elephant Ride and Trekking.

All the booking processes are fair and are solely decided by the forest officials. However, all the safari zones have the healthy and varied population of wildlife species and best for the wildlife sighting. The prime wild animals of Kaziranga forest like tigers, rhinos, elephants, wild buffaloes, etc. are found equally in all the zones and their sightings are more or less same in all zones. The entire processes of the online booking for the Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari are managed by the forest officials using the automated computerized system to ensure the fair distribution of safari vehicles and tourism activities in all the zones.