Wetlands in Kaziranga National Park

WETLANDS IN KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK Assam

Location: between the Brahmaputra river and the Mikir Hills in Nowgong and Sibsagar districts, 23 km from Bokaghat and 200 km ENE of Guwahati, Assam
Area: Area of wetlands c.31,000 ha; National Park 42,996 ha
Altitude: 40-80 m
Biogeographical province: 4.9.4 Wetland type: 11, 13,14,15,18

Description of site: Kaziranga is the largest unspoiled area on the floodplain of the Brahmaputra river. This river forms the northern boundary of the National Park. Numerous smaller rivers and streams flow through the alluvial deposits, and relics of older channels remain as shallow lakes or beels. There are at least nine such beels, measuring 50-150 ha in area, within the Park. These permanent wetlands comprise 6% of the total park area. Seasonally inundated grassland is the largest single type of habitat covering 66%. The southern boundary is formed by the Mora and Diphu rivers, and the eastern boundary by seasonal stream beds. The Mikir Hills rise to 1500 m south of National Highway 37, which cuts through the lower edge of the Park from southwest to northeast. Annual floodinghas preventedhuman settlement in the area, but the Park is bounded on three sides by cultivation and settlement Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate with an average annual rainfall of 2500 mm, most of which falls between April and October. Temperatures range from 10°C - 30°C

Principal vegetation: There are three main vegetation types: alluvial inundated grassland, tropical wet evergreen forest, and tropical semi-evergreen forest. The grassland predominates in the southwest, with tall elephant grasses on the higher ground and shorter grassland surrounding the beels. Scattered trees, predominantly Bombax Ceiba, Dillenia indica, Careya arborea , and Emblica officianlis, are a conspicuous feature of the grasslands. Tropical, wet evergreen forest predominates in the Kancharijhuri, Panbari, and Tamulipathar sections, whilst semi-evergreen forests occur near Baguri, Bimali, and Haldibari. Annual floods inundate the plains from June-October, and low-lying areas may be under water well into December. Some 50% of the taller grassland is subjected to annual burning. Areas of recent alluvial deposition support extensive patches of Saccharum spontaneum and Tamarix spp. Arundo donax and Phragmites karka predominate generally, otherwise species of Erianthus are the most common grasses. Andropogonous grasses less than a metre tall surround the beels, and form the only open areas in the park. The interplay of floods and fires has maintained Kaziranga in more or less its present form for thousands of years

Conservation measures taken: Kaziranga National Park (42,996 ha) was established in 1974 and designated a World Heritage Site at that time. Management has been directed primarily toward protection of the rhinoceros populations. A management plan is revised periodically. The Forest Department has built a number of earthen platforms inside the park as a retreat for animals during floods Conservation measures proposed: There has been a proposal to incorporate the adjoining Reserved Forests of Kukra Kata, Bagser, and Panbari plus the northern slope of the Karbi Plateau (totalling 50,000 ha) into the existing National Park. It has also been suggested that the boundary be fenced, installation of more game guards proceed, more patrols be undertaken, and attempts be made to control the erosion of the northern edge by the Brahmaputra. Kaziranga has been proposed for incorporation into the Man and Biosphere Programme. The government has proposed that an additional 45,450 ha be handed over to the Park Administration once ownership rights have been settled; this area would include a section of the Brahmaputra river. The Forest Department has paid Rs 500,000 for 3200 ha of land in the southern highlands (Karbi Plateau), but the land has not yet been handed over Land use: A wildlife sanctuary and managed nature reserve

Disturbances and threats: Poaching, particularly of the now seriously endangered Rhinoceros unicornis, is a major problem for the conservation programme: as many as 25 rhinoceroses were killed in the first six months of 1984. Lack of a buffer zone around the sanctuary has led to conflict, especially over illegal grazing by domestic livestock and crop-raiding by animals from the Park. Domestic buffalo have gone feral in some localities and are interbreeding with, and thereby threatening the survival of, wild populations. Domestic livestock transmit diseases to the wild populations. There is a general inadequacy of finance, resulting in a shortage of anti-poaching controls; the forest guards are poorly paid and there have been cases of staff being involved with poaching operations. The Brahmaputra is gradually eroding a portion of the northern boundary of the Park. Traffic is increasing every year on National Highway 37 running through the southern edge of the Park, and settlement on either side of the highway is widening the gap between the Park and the southern hills. The greatest threat is the proposed railway running parallel to Highway 37. Surveying and mapping are now complete. Following opposition to the railway, the original proposal was modified to include the provision of three 30m wide passes under the railway line to allow animals, especially elephants, to continue their seasonal migrations

Economic and social values: Kaziranga, one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in Asia, has long been popular with tourists. The Park would doubtless become even more important for tourism if some of the restrictions on travel in Assam were relaxed. Some 22,000 people visited the Park in 1983-84

Fauna: The National Park contains 15 species of India’s threatened mammals, and has the largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in the world. This population increased from only 12 members in 1908 to over 1000 in 1982. The animals are concentrated mostly in the central, southern, and western parts of the Park. However, the recent upsurge in poaching is causing a rapid collapse in this population. The Park also constitutes the best remaining habitat for wild water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in India, and supports healthy populations of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) (780 in 1978), swamp deer (Cervus duvaucelii) and tiger (Panthers tigris). The common otter (Lutra lutra) and Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) are common in the rivers.
The numerous water bodies are rich in amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates which support a substantial resident and migratory population of waterfowl. The first breeding record for India of the greater adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius) was reported at Kaziranga in 1970, and in 1983, four pairs were nesting. There is a small breeding colony of Pelecanus philippensis near Kaziranga village, and Leptoptilos javanicus is fairly common. Other residents include Anhinga melanogaster (very common), at least eight species of herons and egrets, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Anas poecilorhyncha, Porphyrio porphyrio, Metopidius indicus, Vanellus duvaucelii, Sterna aurantia, and S. melanogaster. Winter visitors include Ciconia nigra (up to 15), Anser indicus (up to 300), several thousand ducks, mainly Anas penelope, A. strepera, A. crecca, A. acuta, Aythya nyroca, and A. fuligula, Vanellus cinereus (common), and a wide variety of other shorebirds, mainly Tringaspp. Other noteworthy wetland species which still occur in reasonable numbers include the eagles Haliaeetus leucoryphus and Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, pied harrier, (Circus melanoleucos) Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), swamp partidge (Francolinus gularis), and Jerdon’s bush chat (Saxicola jerdoni)