Features of Kaziranga National Park (KNP)

KNP has been described as the single largest undisturbed and representative area of the Brahmaputra Valley floodplaingrasslands and forests with associated biodiversity. River fluctuations 'of Brahmaputra River system results in spectacular examples of rive-rine and fluvial processes in this vast area of wet alluvial tall grasslands interspersed with numerous broad shallow pools fringed with reeds and patches of deciduous to semi-evergreen woodlands. River bank erosion, sedimentation and formation of new lands as well as new water-bodies and succession between grasslands and woodlands represents outstanding examples of significant and ongoing dynamic ecological and biological processes. The wet alluvial grasslands occupy nearly two thirds of the park area unit are maintained by annual flooding and burning. These natural processes create complexes of habitats which are also responsible for a diverse range of predator/prey relationships.

North and the Karbi Anglong hills on the South. The National Highway NH—37 passes along the southern boundary of the KNP. The park is spread over the civil jurisdictions of Districts Nagaon, Golaghat, Sonitpur and Eliswanath in the State of Assam. With three new additions, three proposed additions and addition of two reserved forests namely, Panbari and Kukurakata reserve forests coming under the administrative control of the Kaziranga National Park, the geographical area of the National Park lies between Latitudes 26 O 33’ N to 26 O 50’ N and. Longitudes 93' O 05’ E to 93 O 41’ E including a part in civil jurisdiction of Sonitpur district. The maintenance of functional connectivity between the KNP and the Karbi Anglong .Hills and the formation of a buffer eco-sensitive zone of the park is imperative to maintain the integrity of the park. Recognizing the biodiversity conservation values of the Park, in 1985 KNP has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The vast stretches of grasslands support a diversity of large herbivores and their predators. The.“Big Five” Consists of Rhino, Tiger, Asian'Elephant, Wild Buffalor and Swamp deer. Kaziranga National Pail: l‘iarbours the single largest 2413 in 2018. KNP also provides habitat for a number of other globally threatened species including gaur, sambar deer, hog deer, capped langur, hoolock gibon and sloth bear. KNP has also been declared as a Tiger Reserve since August, 2007. The foothills of Karbi Anglong Hills is a prime Elephant habitat and also part of the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve with an area of 3270 sq. kms. The location of KNP at the junction of the Australasia and lndo-Asian flyway means that the wetlands in the park play a critical role for the conservation of globally threatened migratory bird species. it is an Important Bird Area with 558‘difierent bird species. The endangered Ganges Dolphin is alsofound in some of the closed oxbow lakes. Kaziranga thus is one of the finest wildlife refuges in the world and is a veritable storehouse of biodiversity.