Kaziranga National Park and Its Important Places

7/29/2019 Kaziranga National Park and Its Important Places

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CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY

WILDLIFE

Fauna

Etymology

Geography

THE CENTRAL (KOHORA) RANGE

EASTERN (AGARTOLI) RANGE

WESTERN (BAGORI) RANGE


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KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

Situated in Nagaon and Golaghat districts of Assam on the southern bank of

the Brahmaputra, Kaziranga lies at the foot of the Mikir Hills that rise to a

height of 1,220 m., some eight km. from Bokakhat. Wetlands, grasslands,

forests and riverine habitats fed by the Brahmaputra River Kaziranga has

them all. "No one can enter the place. It is all swamps and leeches and even

elephants cannot go there", was the response of a British forest officer in 1930

to the famous naturalist E.P. Gee, author of Wildlife of India, who had

requested permission to visit Kaziranga. Today, Kaziranga is a World HeritageSite and is probably one of the richest, most picturesque wildlife habitats of

southern Asia.

History

Kaziranga was originally established as a reserved forest in 1908. It became a

game sanctuary in 1916 and a favourite haunt for poachers and hunters alike,

all after rhino horn. In response to outcries that the rhino was headed for

extinction the shooting was stopped and it was declared a forest reserve (230

sq. km.) and then a wildlife sanctuary in 1926.

Kaziranga was opened to visitors in 1938 thanks to the initiative of A. J. W.

Milroy, Chief Conservator who had managed to put an end to much of the

poaching. In the 1950s large tracts of tropical forest were cleared for the tea

industry and with it came more people. Much of the wild habitat of Assam was

consequently lost to human settlement and their attendant ills (poaching is still

a major problem). In 1954 the rhino was given legal protection through the


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Assam (Rhinoceros) Bill. Kaziranga was declared a National Park in 1974 and

the original core area of 428 sq. km. was declared a World Heritage Site in

December 1985.

Habitat

Kaziranga is an international Biosphere Reserve with the

largest unspoilt grassland of its kind still surviving in the

Northeast of India. The tall grasses and reeds also called

'elephant grass' grow upto a height of five metres during the

rains. In the Western Range theses grasslands predominatewith shorter grasses growing around the bheels. Locally called

Ekra, Khagori, Nal and Ulu Kher, tall grasses cover 41 per cent

and short grasses 11 per cent of Kaziranga, with open jungle

extending across another 29 per cent, swamps four per cent,

rivers and water bodies 8 per cent and plain sand 6 per cent.

Deciduous woodland with Karori, Ajhar, Simul, Oxy, Chida and

Bogori trees are scattered through the grasslands.

A fine patch of semi evergreen forest with Cham kothal,

Hollock, Bhelu, Banji-ou, Ficus and other miscellaneous species

occurs near Baguri, Bimali and Haldibari in the Western Range.

The tropical wet evergreen forests that are found in the Eastern

Range are often thick and impenetrable. In the summer

months a variety of orchids can be seen on display. Around

now the silk cotton tree, simul, disperses its seeds in white

balls of fluff that float through the air and add considerably to


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the charm of Kaziranga. The water hyacinth, an exotic that

was introduced into the park, is now found everywhere,

strangling other aquatic flora in the bheels.

Wildlife

If you set off early in winter, a thin ground mist cloaks thegrasslands. Through this mist, wild buffalo, rhinos, elephantsand deer tend to appear and disappear like apparitions in astrange and exotic setting. On rare occasions, however, youcould conceivably see up to 30 rhinos in the open grasslands

from the Dunga watchtower in the Central Range.

Elephants never used to stay all year round in Kaziranga,choosing to depart during the floods. But in recent yearspopulation pressures from the surrounding tribals settlementshave disrupted elephant migration routes or 'corridors'. Theycan consequently be seen in the park for 12 months now.

Swamp deer, though threatened, are found here in their largest

concentrations in Eastern India. If you are very lucky andpersistent you may see common and the smooth Indian otter.The flying fox, and the Malabar flying squirrel are also residentsof Kaziranga. Reptiles include the water monitor, Indianpython, common cobra, king cobra, cat snake, rat snake andcheckered keelbacks. An astounding 11 species of turtle are

found in the park.


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Gaur too have had to adapt tohuman disturbance outside andare now a more common sightin the Park. Other mammals

include the capped langur,rhesus macaque, a smallpopulation of Hoolock gibbon,tiger, leopard (common inKanchanjhuri in the WesternRange), sloth bear (in grassland

and woodland), Gangetic dolphin (in the stagnant Mihibheel),wild pig and sambar deer (in small numbers). Hog deer areabundant.

More than 400 species of birds have been recorded in the

Kaziranga area, a birdwatcher's paradise par excellence. Thislist includes over 100 migratory species from as far afield asSiberia. Red Junglefowl, Grey Francolin, Swamp Partridge,Kalij Pheasant, Pied Hornbills, Green Imperial Pigeon,Silverbreasted Broadbill, and Jerdon's Bushchat are among thespecies that twitchers could see in different areas. The splendid

avifauna of Kaziranga also comprises some of the mostbrilliantly coloured hill birds like the Scarlet Minivet, sunbirdsand bee-eaters. Visible around the bheels are Greyheaded andPallas' Fishing Eagles, Great Cormorants, Darters, PondHerons, Egrets, Indian Shags, Night Herons, Gadwall,Barheaded Geese (one the most important Indian winteringgrounds), Cotton and Common Teal, Brahminy Duck, Commonand Demoiselle Crane and Spotbilled Pelicans. Grey Pelicans

breed here in a rookery near the Kaziranga Village. Other birds

include the Black-necked Stork (which also breeds here),Lesser Adjutant Stork. Whistling Teal and Bar-headed Geeseare the most commonly seen waterfowl.


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Fauna

Kaziranga contains significant breedingpopulations of 35 mammalian species, of

which 15 are threatened as per the IUCNRed List. The park has the distinction ofbeing home to the world's largest populationof the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros(1,855), Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo (1,666)and Eastern Swamp Deer(468). Significantpopulations of large herbivores includeelephants (1,940), gaur(30) and sambar(58). Small herbivores include the Indian

Muntjac, wild boar, and hog deer. Kazirangahas the largest population of the Wild waterbuffalo anywhere accounting for about 57%of the world population.

Kaziranga is one of the few wild breeding areas outside Africa formultiple species of large cats, such as Indian Tigers and Leopards.Kaziranga was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006 and has the highestdensity of tigers in the world (one per five km), with a population of 86,

as per the 2000 census. Otherfelids include the Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat,and Leopard Cats. Small mammals include the rare Hispid Hare, IndianGray Mongoose, Small Indian Mongooses, Large Indian Civet, SmallIndian Civets, Bengal Fox, Golden Jackal, Sloth Bear, Chinese Pangolin,Indian Pangolins, Hog Badger, Chinese Ferret Badgers, andParticolored flying squirrels. Nine of the 14 primate species found inIndia occur in the park. Prominent among them are the AssameseMacaque, Capped, Golden Langur, as well as the only ape found inIndia, the Hoolock Gibbon. Kaziranga's rivers are also home to the

endangered Ganges Dolphin.

Kaziranga has been identified by BirdlifeInternational as an Important Bird Area. Itis home to a variety of migratory birds,water birds, predators, scavengers, andgame birds. Birds such as the LesserWhite-fronted Goose, Ferruginous Duck,Baer's Pochard duck and LesserAdjutant, Greater Adjutant, Black-necked

Stork, and Asian Openbill stork migratefrom Central Asia to the park during
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threatenedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_Listhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_Listhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Rhinoceroshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Asiatic_Water_Buffalohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Deerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambar_Deerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Muntjachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Muntjachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_boarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_deerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Tigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Leopardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Cathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_Cathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_Cathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispid_Harehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gray_Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gray_Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Indian_Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Indian_Civethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Indian_Civethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Indian_Civethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Foxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Jackalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth_Bearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Pangolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Pangolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_Badgerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Ferret_Badgerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylopeteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_Macaquehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_Macaquehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutunghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Langurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoolock_Gibbonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges_Dolphinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdlife_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdlife_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Important_Bird_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_White-fronted_Goosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_White-fronted_Goosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferruginous_Duckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baer%27s_Pochardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Adjutanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Adjutanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Adjutanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Openbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Openbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_Storkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Adjutanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Adjutanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Adjutanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baer%27s_Pochardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferruginous_Duckhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_White-fronted_Goosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_White-fronted_Goosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Important_Bird_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdlife_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdlife_Internationalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges_Dolphinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoolock_Gibbonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Langurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutunghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_Macaquehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamese_Macaquehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylopeteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Ferret_Badgerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_Badgerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Pangolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Pangolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth_Bearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Jackalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Foxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Indian_Civethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Indian_Civethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Indian_Civethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Indian_Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gray_Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gray_Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispid_Harehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_Cathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_Cathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Cathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Leopardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Tigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_deerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_boarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Muntjachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Muntjachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambar_Deerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Deerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Asiatic_Water_Buffalohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Rhinoceroshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_Listhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_Listhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threatened


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winter. Riverine birds include the Blyth's Kingfisher, White-bellied Heron,Dalmatian Pelican, Spot-billed Pelican, Nordmann's Greenshank, andBlack-bellied Tern.:p.10 Birds of prey include the rare Eastern Imperial,Greater Spotted, White-tailed, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Grey-headed Fish

Eagle, and the Lesser Kestrel.

Kaziranga was once home to seven species ofvultures, but the vulturepopulation reached near extinction, supposedly by feeding on animalcarcasses containing the drug Diclofenac. Only the Indian Vulture,Slender-billed Vulture, and Indian White-rumped Vulture have survived.Game birds include the Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican, and Pale-capped Pigeon.:p.03

Other families of birds inhabiting Kaziranga include the Great Indian

Hornbill and Wreathed Hornbill, OldWorld babblers such asJerdonsandMarsh Babblers, weaver birds suchas the common Baya Weaver,threatened Finn's Weavers, thrushessuch as Hodgson's Bushchat andOld World warblers such as theBristled Grassbird. Other threatenedspecies include the Black-breasted

Parrotbill and the Rufous-ventedPrinia.

:p.0713

Two of the largest snakes in theworld, the Reticulated Python andRock Python, as well as the longest venomous snake in the world, theKing Cobra, inhabit the park. Other snakes found here include the IndianCobra, Monocled Cobra, Russell's Viper, and the Common Krait. Monitorlizard species found in the park include the Bengal monitorand the

Water Monitor. Other reptiles include fifteen species ofturtle, such as theendemic Assam Roofed Turtle and one species of tortoise, the BrownTortoise. 42 species of fish are found in the area, including theTetraodon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blyth%27s_Kingfisherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-bellied_Heronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatian_Pelicanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot-billed_Pelicanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordmann%27s_Greenshankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-bellied_Ternhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birds_of_preyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Imperial_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Spotted_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallas%27s_Fish_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey-headed_Fish_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey-headed_Fish_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Kestrelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diclofenachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender-billed_Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_White-rumped_Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Francolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Floricanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale-capped_Pigeonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale-capped_Pigeonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Indian_Hornbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Indian_Hornbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathed_Hornbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerdon%27s_Babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerdon%27s_Babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerdon%27s_Babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_Babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver_birdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baya_Weaverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn%27s_Weaverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrush_%28bird%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgson%27s_Bushchathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_warblershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristled_Grassbirdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-breasted_Parrotbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-breasted_Parrotbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous-vented_Priniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous-vented_Priniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulated_Pythonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_sebaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocled_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daboiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Kraithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_monitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Monitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kachuga_sylhetensishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Tortoisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Tortoisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraodonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraodonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Tortoisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Tortoisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kachuga_sylhetensishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Monitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_monitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monitor_lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Kraithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daboiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocled_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Cobrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_sebaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulated_Pythonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous-vented_Priniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous-vented_Priniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-breasted_Parrotbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-breasted_Parrotbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristled_Grassbirdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_warblershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgson%27s_Bushchathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrush_%28bird%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn%27s_Weaverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baya_Weaverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver_birdhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_Babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerdon%27s_Babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_babblerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathed_Hornbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Indian_Hornbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Indian_Hornbillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale-capped_Pigeonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale-capped_Pigeonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Floricanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Francolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_White-rumped_Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender-billed_Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diclofenachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Kestrelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey-headed_Fish_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey-headed_Fish_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallas%27s_Fish_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Spotted_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Imperial_Eaglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birds_of_preyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-bellied_Ternhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordmann%27s_Greenshankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot-billed_Pelicanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatian_Pelicanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-bellied_Heronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blyth%27s_Kingfisher


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Etymology

Although the etymology of the name Kaziranga is not certain, there exist

a number of possible explanations derived from local legends andrecords. According to one legend, a girl named Ranga, from a nearbyvillage, and a youth named Kazi, from Karbi Anglong, fell in love. Thismatch was not acceptable to their families and the couple disappearedinto the forest, never to be seen again, and the forest was named afterthem. According to another legend, Srimanta Sankardeva, the sixteenthcentury Vaisnava saint-scholar, once blessed a childless couple, Kaziand Rangai, and asked them to dig a big pond in the region so that theirname would live on.

Testimony to the long history of the name can be found in some records,which state that once, while the Ahom king Pratap Singha was passingby the region during the seventeenth century, he was particularlyimpressed by the taste of fish and on inquiry, he was told it came fromKaziranga. Kaziranga also could mean the "Land of red goats (Deer)",as the word Kaziin the Karbi language means "goat", and Rangaimeans "red".

Some historians believe, however, that the name, Kaziranga, was

derived from the Karbi word Kajir-a-rang, which means "the village ofKajir"(kajiror gaon). Among the Karbis, Kajir is a common name for a girlchild, and it was believed that a woman named, Kajir, once ruled overthe area. Fragments ofmonoliths associated with Karbi rule foundscattered in the area seem to bear testimony to this assertion.

Geography

Kaziranga is located between

latitudes 2630' N and 2645' N,and longitudes 9308' E to 9336'E within two districts in the Indianstate ofAssamthe Kaliaborsubdivision ofNagaon district andthe Bokakhat subdivision ofGolaghat district.

The park is approximately 40 km

(25 mi) in length from east to west, and 13 km (8 mi) in breadth fromnorth to south. Kaziranga covers an area of 378 km

2(146 sq mi), with
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbi_Anglong_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srimanta_Sankardevahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisnavismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahom_Dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratap_Singhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliabor_subdivisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliabor_subdivisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaon_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokakhat_subdivisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golaghat_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golaghat_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokakhat_subdivisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaon_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliabor_subdivisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliabor_subdivisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratap_Singhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahom_Dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisnavismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srimanta_Sankardevahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbi_Anglong_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology


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approximately 51.14 km2

(20 sq mi) lost to erosion in recent years. Atotal addition of 429 km

2(166 sq mi) along the present boundary of the

park has been made and designated with separate national park statusto provide extended habitat for increasing the population of wildlife or, as

a corridor for safe movement of animals to Karbi Anglong Hills.:p.06

Elevation ranges from 40 m (131 ft) to 80 m (262 ft). The park area iscircumscribed by the Brahmaputra River, which forms the northern andeastern boundaries, and the Mora Diphlu, which forms the southernboundary. Other notable rivers within the park are the Diphlu and MoraDhansiri.:p.05

Kaziranga has flat expanses of fertile, alluvial soil formed by erosion andsilt deposition by the Brahmaputra. The landscape consists of exposedsandbars, riverine flood-formed lakes known as,beels, (which make up5% of the surface area), and elevated regions known as, chapories,which provide retreats and shelter for animals during floods. Manyartificial chaporieshave been built with the help of the Indian Army toensure the safety of the animals. Kaziranga is one of the largest tracts ofprotected land in the sub-Himalayan belt, and due to the presence ofhighly diverse and visible species, has been described as a "biodiversityhotspot". The park is located in the Indomalaya ecozone, and thedominant biomes of the region are Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreenforests of the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome and

a frequently flooded variant of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ofthe tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublandsbiome.

The Central (Kohora) Range: Mihi, Kathpora, Dafflong,Borbeel, Bhaisamari are some of the particularly rich bheelshere. Rich in birdlife, these wetlands are among the mostproductive habitats around which to birdwatch.Eastern (Agartoli) Range: Driving along a small stream with

a variety of semi evergreen trees forming a closed canopiesalong its banks, you could see elephants swimming across inherds, or a young one enjoying a dust bath. Rotting logs arefavourite spots for turtle to sunbathe. Perhaps the most

magnificent part of Kaziranga, roads from this particularly richarea lead to tall grass habitats and the sandy banks of theBrahmaputra. This is Bengal Florican country. Mihimukh is a

particularly good wildlife area.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Mora_Diphluhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Diphluhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Mora_Dhansirihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Mora_Dhansirihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alluvial_soilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indomalaya_ecozonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_Valley_semi-evergreen_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_Valley_semi-evergreen_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terai-Duar_savanna_and_grasslandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terai-Duar_savanna_and_grasslandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_Valley_semi-evergreen_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_Valley_semi-evergreen_forestshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indomalaya_ecozonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erosionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alluvial_soilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Mora_Dhansirihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Mora_Dhansirihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Diphluhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Mora_Diphlu


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Western (Bagori) Range: This range has a patch of semievergreen forest near Baguri, Bimali and Haldibari and Dunga,Bimoli, Borbeel, Dafflong and Ramori. Outside the park, a walkalong the NH7 from Kanchanjhuri, Burapahar and Amguri couldgive you a chance of spotting the Hoolock gibbon, cappedlangur or Giant Hornbill. Sometimes they rest up for the nightat the edge of the forest near tea estates and a walk in thearea before first light could be rewarding.An overnight trip to Nameri National Park (and the orchidarium

on the Arunachal Pradesh border), is highly recommended for acamping experience. For mild whitewater rafting, take a trip to

Balukpung and raft down the river Jia Bharoli. The birdwatchingalong this riverine tract is probably among the best availableanywhere in the world.

Kaziranga National Park and Its Important Places

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