Nature’s Marvel in the North East – Kaziranga National Park
One of the excellent wildlife destinations in India, the Kaziranga National Park is enriched with the diverse wildlife and ecology. Often considered as the ‘Serengeti of India’, the beautiful and large forest of Kaziranga is the natural abode of the hundreds of species of wild flora and fauna. The park has also become the beacon of the wildlife conservation after having an amazing success in the Rhino conservation and tiger conservation efforts. The ecosystems of the Kaziranga National Park change with the regions spread across the area of around 430 square km. From the marshlands to tropical forests and from the small grass to a dense elephant grass along with the interspersed small water holes in the entire forest, the Kaziranga National Park is known for its bio-diversity of the landscape and the wildlife.
Story Behind the Conservation
There was a lady behind the conservation efforts in Kaziranga. The story of conservation had been started by the wife of a British Viceroy. If it were not the influential wife of a British Viceroy and her admirable efforts, the Conservation project in Kaziranga may not have been started so early. It may have taken many years to get the efforts initiated for saving the endangered one-horned Rhino in Kaziranga. The story takes you back to the year 1904 when the Lady Mary Curzon, the influential wife of the then British Viceroy of India Lord Curzon had visited this region. She couldn’t get the sighting of a single Rhino and the scarcity of the Rhino at the place which was once famous for the One-horned Rhino shocked her. She then persuaded her husband, Viceroy Lord Curzon to create a wildlife sanctuary to save the diminishing Rhino population. In the year 1905, the Kaziranga sanctuary came into the existence.
Diversity of the Wildlife
Not only is the largest natural habitat of the one-horned Rhino in the world, but also the diverse wildlife species which made the Kaziranga a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited wildlife destinations in the world. Distinct from the other National Parks like the Corbett National Park, Ranthambore National Park or others, the forest of Kaziranga is the reserve park for the two endangered wild animals – Rhino and Tiger. The Park is the natural home to the five big wild animals such as one horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Water Buffalo and Swamp Deer. Also with the substantial presence of the numerous bird species, the park is also a big draw for the birding. With more than 80 percent of one-horned Rhino in the park, the Kaziranga boasts of being the only forest in the world with having more than the one-third population of one-horned Rhino in its habitat.
Exploring the Wildlife
To explore the wildlife in the Kaziranga Nationa Park, the park administration organizes wildlife safari in the forest for the sighting of the wildlife in their natural habitat. The Jeep Safari and Elephant Safari are the two mediums by which you can explore the flora and fauna of the park. You are not allowed to explore the park on your foot in any condition. The wild animals like Rhinos, Buffalos, Elephants and the Swamp Deer can be spotted easily during your safari while the Tigers are not so easy to spot as tigers are the shy and elusive animal, and the tall elephant grass makes easier for them to hide, stalk and attack their prey. Apart from the safari in the Kaziranga Park, you can also explore the nearby villages and local handicraft market where you can buy the handmade clothes, handicrafts, traditional relics. There are plenty of exquisite luxury resorts and the economical hotels to stay nearby the park.
You can visit the park on your own and make a booking of the safari, accommodation and transport by yourself or you can contact a travel agent and buy a package which includes everything safari, accommodation and transport. Choose whatever suits you the best but must visit Kaziranga to explore the biodiversity of the region.
