Kaziranga is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, India.It is a World Heritage Site, and two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses live in the park. Kaziranga has the highest density of tigers among protected areas in the world and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park has large breeding populations of elephants, water buffalo and swamp deer. Kaziranga is recognised as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International for conservation of avifaunal species. The park has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation compared to other protected areas in India. Located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high-species diversity and visibility.
Kazirranga a Karbi word i.e., a village belongs to one Karbi Lady 'Kazir'. According to Tai-Ahom scholars the word 'Kaziranga' means a place or home of various horn animals such as: Rhino, elephant, bufallo, deer etc. The word is interpreted as -Ka= animal, zi = a store or home, ranga = horned animals.
Kaziranga contains significant breeding populations of 35 mammalian species, of which 15 are threatened as per the IUCN Red List..The park has the distinction of being home to the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros (1,855), Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo and Eastern Swamp Deer Significant populations of large herbivores include elephants , gaur and sambar. Small herbivores include the Indian Muntjac, wild boar and hog deer.Kaziranga is one of the few wild breeding areas outside Africa for multiple species of large cats such as Indian Tigers and Leopards. Kaziranga was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006 and has the highest density of tigers in the world (one per five km²), with a population of 86, as per the 2000 census.Kaziranga has been identified by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area.It is home to a variety of migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers and game birds.
Four main types of vegetation types exist in the park. These are alluvial inundated grasslands, alluvial savanna woodlands, tropical moist mixed deciduous forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests. Based on Landsat data for 1986, percent coverage by vegetation is: tall grasses 41%, short grasses 11%, open jungle 29%, swamps 4%, rivers and water bodies 8%, and sand 6%.
=There is a difference in altitude between the eastern and western areas, with the western side being at a lower altitude. The western reaches of the park are dominated by grasslands. Tall elephant grass is found on higher ground, while short grasses cover the lower grounds surrounding the beels or flood-created ponds. Annual flooding, grazing by herbivores and controlled burning maintains and fertilizes the grasslands and reeds. Common tall grasses are sugarcanes, spear grass, Elephant Grass and the Common Reed. Numerous forbs are present along with the grasses. Amidst the grasses, providing cover and shade are scattered trees—dominant species including Kumbhi, Indian gooseberry, the cotton tree (in savanna woodlands), and Elephant apple (in inundated grasslands).
National Park has been granted maximum protection under the Indian law for wildlife conservation. Various laws, which include the Assam Forest Regulation of 1891 and the Biodiversity Conservation Act of 2002 have been enacted for protection of wildlife in the park. Poaching activities, particularly of the rhinoceroses for its horn, has been a major concern for the authorities.
Between 1980 and 2005, 567 rhinoceroses were hunted by poachers.
Perennial flooding and heavy rains have resulted in death of wild animals and damage to the
conservation infrastructures.To escape the water-logged areas, many animals migrate to elevated regions outside the park boundaries where they are susceptible to hunting, hit by speeding vehicles, or subject to reprisals by villagers for damaging their crops. . To mitigate the losses, the authorities have increased patrols, purchased additional speedboats for patrol, and created artificial highlands for shelter. Several corridors have been set up for the safe passage of animals across National Highway–37 which skirts around the southern boundary of the park. To prevent the spread of diseases and maintain the genetic distinctness of the wild species, systematic steps such as
immunization of livestock in surrounding villages, and fencing of sensitive areas of the park, which are susceptible to encroachment by local cattle are undertaken periodically. The Wildlife wing of the forest department of the Government of Assam is responsible for the administration and management of Kaziranga, which is headquartered at Bokakhat.. The park receives financial aid from the State Government as well as the Ministry of Environment and Forests of Government of India under various Plan and Non-Plan Budgets. Additional funding is received under the Project Elephant from the Central Government. In 1997–1998, a grant of US$ 100,000 was received under the Technical Co-operation for Security Reinforcement scheme from the World Heritage Fund. Additional funding is also received from national & international Non-governmental organizations.