Assam to reopen Kaziranga, other wildlife tourist destinations from October 1

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government plans to lift more COVID-19 restrictions from most parts of the state, especially wildlife tourist destinations, from October 1.

In view of the improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the state, the Assam government has decided to reopen the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state for tourists from October 1.

Due to the severe second wave of COVID-19, the Assam government had on May 3 issued a notification to close all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries for visitors.

On Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government plans to lift more Covid-19 restrictions from most parts of the state, especially wildlife tourist destinations, from October 1.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Assam government has planned to lift the COVID-19 restrictions and tourists can come to Kaziranga and tourists can enjoy the beauty of Kaziranga.”

He further said that vaccinated tourists can come and enjoy the wildlife tourist places of the state.
Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that an elevated corridor will soon be constructed on the highway passing through Kaziranga National Park for the protection of wild animals.

Himanta Biswa also participated in a program to destroy 2479 rhino horn reserves at Bokakhat near Sarma Kaziranga National Park. The aim of this exercise was to give a strong message against poaching of rhinoceros and dispel the myth of medicinal value of its horns.

According to the Government of Assam, the population of one-horned rhinoceros in Assam has increased from 1,672 in 1999 to 2652 as per the 2018 census.

“With the first such incident of rhino horn destruction in the country and the world on such a large scale, the state government intends to send a strong message against rhino hunting while reiterating its commitment towards wildlife conservation,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma he said.

About Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve

For those who thought that Indian one-horned rhinoceros existed only in the Jurassic-era, a visit to Kaziranga is a must. One of the most sought-after wildlife vacation destinations in India, Kaziranga National Park covers an area of ​​430 square kilometers surrounded by elephant-grass meadows, marshy lagoons and dense forests, home to over 2200 Indian one-horned rhinos. is, about 2/3 of them. total world population.

Created in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is situated on the edge of the eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot – Golaghat and Nagaon district. In the year 1985, the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is said that when Mary Curzon, wife of the Viceroy of India – Lord Curzon of Kedleston, went to the park to see the Indian one-horned rhinoceros; She couldn’t find one. She then persuaded her husband to take immediate measures to protect the dwindling species, which he did by planning for their protection. After a series of meetings and documents, in 1905 the Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was created with an area of ​​232 km (90 sq mi).

Along with the iconic Greater One-horned rhinoceros, the park is a breeding ground for elephants, bison and swamp deer. Over time, the tiger population in Kaziranga has also increased, and this is the reason why Kaziranga was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. Also, the park has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of bird species. Birds such as the lesser white-fronted goose, ferruginous duck, Bayer’s pochard duck and the lesser, more helpful, black-necked stork, and Asian openbill stork, migrate from Central Asia especially during the winter season.

Undoubtedly, the park is known to have a good population of animals, but even more so are the wildlife conservation initiatives taking place in the park. With its amazing wildlife conservation activities, the park has successfully managed to increase the population of an endangered species, the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros.

The vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshlands and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests undoubtedly make the park beautiful, but it is the presence of the Brahmaputra River that makes it enigmatic.

Due to the difference in elevation between the eastern and western regions of the park, mainly four types of vegetation can be seen, namely alluvial flood meadows, alluvial savanna forests, tropical moist mixed deciduous forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests. Kumbhi, Indian gooseberry, cotton tree and elephant apple are among the famous trees that can be seen in the park. Apart from this, a good variety of aquatic flora can be seen along the lakes, ponds and river banks.

The forest area of ​​Kaziranga Park is home to the world’s largest population of Indian rhinoceros. Other animals that can be seen in elephant grass, marshlands and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests of Kaziranga are hoolock gibbon, tiger, panther, Indian elephant, sloth bear, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, etc. With the tiger population increasing every year, government officials declared Kaziranga a Tiger Reserve in the year 2006. Here also a good number of migratory bird species from Central Asia can be found.

Best time to go
Kaziranga Park is closed for tourists from 01 May to 31 October every year. Hence November to April is the best time to visit Kaziranga National Park.

Summers (April to May): During this time of the year, the climate remains dry and windy; Animals can be found around water bodies.
Monsoon (June to September): From June to September, the region receives heavy rainfall, about 2,220 millimeters (87 in); Thus the climate remains hot and humid. The park is closed from May to October due to flood warnings in the Brahmaputra river.

Winter (November to February): Probably the best time to visit Kaziranga National Park as the climate is mild and dry. Rhinos are more likely to be sighted in winter as the grass is burned and the background clears.

Safari time
To promote wildlife tourism in Assam, Kaziranga Park Authority organizes a jeep and elephant safari tour.

Spread over an area of ​​430 sq km, the park aka the hotspot of diversity is divided into four zones; Each has its own distinctive feature with respect to grasslands, density of mammals and birds, land topography, terrain. Below are some points from the pre-defined tourist circuits where jeep safaris take place:

Mihimukh in the Central Range at Kohorabagori in the Western Range, Agartolighorkati in the Burapahar Range in the Burapahar Range at Bagori Agartoli in the Eastern Range