Editorial
Kaziranga National Park: Golden Moments of Conservation History of Assam Wild Heritage
Hirendra Nath Sarma
Editor-in-Chief
Email: hirendra.sarma@rgu.ac.in
Kaziranga, a place of central zone of Assam at the heart of
Brahmaputra River. The history of the name Kaziranga (Kazi
and Ranga) is only centuries old associated with various legends,
while, this place has been recorded as billions of years as old
as Mount Himalaya and Brahmaputra river. The Brahmaputra
River, is one of the greatest river systems of the world
established the human civilization thousands years back. The
mighty river created the Brahmaputra valley along with its
catchment basin surrounded by the Himalayan mountain
range. Over the years, name has been assigned in different
range of this mountain, areas of Brahmaputra basin while
the nature remains same with its endemic flora fauna .
Kaziranga is a unique ecosystem linked with the lotic
and lentic water system of river Brahmaputra. During
summer, the whole Kaziranga is inundated by flood water
washing out by flowing water from east to west. During
winter, it creates the water bodies: "beel", swamp, sand dunes
(Chapories), grass lands all of which are interlinked by the
river tributaries. World's largest river island "the Majuli" is
attached naturally and biologically with Kaziranga . An umpteen
numbers of endemic species, the Kaziranga is home land of
aquatic, terrestrial and avian fauna. By and large Kaziranga is
famous and known across the world for One horned
Rhinoceros and Royal Bengal Tigers. History of Rhinoceros
in Kaziranga could be older than the human civilization in
Brahmaputra valley. Along with the Rhinoceros, thousands
of species of flora and fauna that have been evolved in this
zone of eastern part of Mount Himalalaya and the heart of
Brahmaputra river.
Kaziranga started it political history with recognition
as reserve forest by Government way back of more than one
hundred years in the year 1905. It grows continuously; over
the decades, recognized as National Park by the Government
of Assam in the year 1969. Today in 21st century, the Assam,
one of the states of north eastern region of Indian Subcontinent
has been glittered with Kaziranga National Park for nature
conservation.
The Kaziranga National park is celebrating fifty years
of its glorious history of existence for wildlife conservation.
This year, the Government of Assam declared the celebration
of Golden Jubilee on its successful fifty years of modern history
of existence as National Park. Home of thousands of endemic
species this National Park is proud of growth and development
of every issues of nature conservation. Credit goes to the
people of Assam who by mind and hearts show the affection
to the wild life and conserved it for posterity. By the people's
support and enthusiasm, the Kaziranga has been growing in
its area year after year.
Kaziranga National Park is one of the world's best
natural laboratories for study of conservation of ecosystem,
flora and fauna in situ. The impact of global climate change
could have its effects on this virgin ecosystem. An integrated
multidisciplinary research is the call of the present moment
for sustainable development of this unique ecosystem of sub
Himalayan region.
Political patronization is an important issue and
inevitable for conservation of any ecological system of the
world. States in the 21st century being run by the Government,
thus need legal protection of the ecosystem as well as wildlife
conservation. An integrated approach of scientists for analysis
of conservation issues of flora fauna, abiotic components, social
workers for building awareness on need of conservation among
masses and governmental organization for legal protection
and management could be considered as the primary
requirement of successful conservation and its sustainable
development. It is believed, Kaziranga National Park has been
growing with its healthy sustainable developmental process
that has been attracting the international tourists to enjoy the
tapestry of nature of Brahmaputra valley. People of Assam
are proud of Kaziranga today and stand forward in front of
the world community showing the best model of nature and
wildlife conservation for posterity.
Reference :
Ghosh S. Glorius 50 years of Kaziranga. Assam Tribune, 11
February, 2024