Background and Context

Kaziranga National Park, located in Assam along the Brahmaputra River, faces significant conservation challenges. The recent petition to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) highlights ongoing issues with illegal construction in wildlife corridors that connect the park with the Karbi Anglong Hills.

Wildlife Corridors

  • Nine identified wildlife corridors were delineated by the Assam government in 2022
  • These corridors were established following the Supreme Court's 2019 order that prohibited new construction on private lands within these corridors
  • The corridors enable animals to move safely, especially during floods
  • National Highway-37 has fragmented the landscape, creating a major conservation challenge

Key Facts about Kaziranga National Park

Timeline of Designations

  • 1908: Established as a Reserve Forest to protect the Indian rhinoceros
  • 1950: Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary
  • 1974: Designated as a National Park
  • 1985: Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • 2007: Declared a Tiger Reserve due to high tiger density

Geographic Features

  • Located along the Brahmaputra River, which brings rich nutrients but also causes habitat loss through erosion
  • Contains over 250 seasonal water bodies
  • The Diphlu River flows through the landscape

The Big Five

Kaziranga is famous for its "Big Five":

  1. Indian Rhinoceros - flagship species
  2. Tiger - high density population
  3. Elephant
  4. Asiatic Wild Buffalo
  5. Eastern Swamp Deer - nearly the entire global population is found here

Significance for India

  • Biodiversity Hotspot: Kaziranga represents one of India's most important conservation areas
  • Endemic Species: The Eastern Swamp Deer is nearly endemic to this region
  • Tiger Conservation: High density tiger population makes it crucial for India's tiger conservation efforts
  • Flood Management: Wildlife corridors are critical for animal movement during annual floods

Legal Framework

  • The Supreme Court's 2019 order forms the basis for corridor protection
  • The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is the monitoring body for implementation
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the legal framework for park protection

Conservation Challenges

  1. Habitat Fragmentation: Infrastructure development (like NH-37) has fragmented the landscape
  2. Human-Wildlife Conflict: Encroachment in corridor areas
  3. Flood Management: Annual floods necessitate functional wildlife corridors
  4. Poaching: Historically, poaching has been a major threat to rhinos and tigers