116-586: Mikir Hills are a group of hills located to the south of the Kaziranga National Park , Assam . The easternmost Meghalaya comprising the detached Mikir Hills is partly isolated being surrounded by three sides. Karbi plateau or Mikir Hills is known as the oldest landform in Assam. It is pear-shaped and has an area of about 7000 sq. km. It is part of the Karbi-Plateau . Its highest peak
232-525: A Tiger Reserve in 2006. The park is home to large breeding populations of elephants , wild water buffalo , and swamp deer . Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for conservation of avifaunal species which refers as the birds or types of birds found in a specific region, period, or environment. When compared with other protected areas in India, Kaziranga has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation . Located on
348-669: A black market of poachers. Deep-seated cultural beliefs in the potency of tiger parts are so prevalent across China and other east Asian countries that laws protecting even critically endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger fail to stop the display and sale of these items in open markets, according to a 2008 report from TRAFFIC. Popular "medicinal" tiger parts from poached animals include tiger genitals, believed to improve virility, and tiger eyes. Rhino populations face extinction because of demand in Asia (for traditional medicine and as
464-562: A children's storybook by Arup Dutta about rhinoceros poaching in the national park, won the Shankar's Award. The Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika refers to Kaziranga in one of his songs. The BBC conservationist and travel writer, Mark Shand , authored a book and the corresponding BBC documentary Queen of the Elephants , based on the life of the first female mahout in recent times— Parbati Barua of Kaziranga. The book went on to win
580-521: A reserve forest . The history of Kaziranga as a protected area can be traced back to 1904, when Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston , the wife of the Viceroy of India , Lord Curzon of Kedleston , visited the area. After failing to see a single-horned rhinoceros, for which the area was renowned, she persuaded her husband to take urgent measures to protect the dwindling species which he did by initiating planning for their protection. On 1 June 1905,
696-509: A better life for children, which drive rural poachers to take the risk of poaching even though they dislike exploiting the wildlife. Another major cause of poaching is the cultural high demand of wildlife products, such as ivory, which are seen as symbols of status and wealth in China. According to Joseph Vandegrift, China saw an unusual spike in demand for ivory in the 21st century because the economic boom allowed more middle-class Chinese to have
812-606: A better policy to raise tigers on a farm or put them in a wildlife conservation habitat to preserve the species. Conducting a survey on 1,058 residents of Beijing, China, with 381 being university students and the other 677 being regular citizens, they tried to gauge public opinion about tigers and conservation efforts for them. They were asked questions regarding the value of tigers in relations to ecology, science, education, aestheticism, and culture. However, one reason emerged as to why tigers are still highly demanded in illegal trading: culturally, they are still status symbols of wealth for
928-463: A big pond in the region so that their name would live on. Testimony to the long history of the name can be found in some records, which state that once, while the Ahom king Pratap Singha was passing by the region during the seventeenth century, he was particularly impressed by the taste of fish, and on asking was told it came from Kaziranga. Kaziranga also could mean the "Land of red goats (Deer)", as
1044-430: A girl named Rawnga, from a nearby village, and a youth named Kazi, from Karbi Anglong , fell in love. This match was not acceptable to their families, and the couple disappeared into the forest, never to be seen again, and the forest was named after them. According to another legend, Srimanta Sankardeva , the sixteenth-century Vaisnava saint-scholar, once blessed a childless couple, Kazi and Rangai, and asked them to dig
1160-523: A higher purchasing power, which incentivized them to show off their newfound wealth by using ivory, which has been a rare commodity since the Han dynasty . In China, there are problems with wildlife conservation, specifically relating to tigers. Several authors collaborated on the piece "Public attitude toward tiger farming and tiger conservation in Beijing, China", and explored the option of whether it would be
1276-554: A luxury item) and in the Middle East (where horns are used for decoration). A sharp surge in demand for rhino horn in Vietnam was attributed to rumors that the horn cured cancer, though this has no basis in science. In 2012, one kilogram of crushed rhino horn has sold for as much as $ 60,000, more expensive than a kilogram of gold. Vietnam is the only nation which mass-produces bowls made for grinding rhino horn. Ivory , which
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#17327724772961392-460: A military mission to quell the disturbance. The people of Lackenhäuser had several skirmishes with Austrian foresters and military that started due to poached deer. The well-armed people set against the representatives of the state were known as bold poachers ( kecke Wilderer ). Some poachers and their violent deaths, like Matthias Klostermayr (1736–1771), Georg Jennerwein (1848–1877) and Pius Walder (1952–1982) gained notoriety and have had
1508-513: A petroleum refinery at Numaligarh , pose a hazard to the ecology of the region. Invasive species such as Mimosa and wild rose have posed a threat to the native plants in the region. To control the growth and irradiation of invasive species, research on biological methods for controlling weeds, manual uprooting and weeding before seed settling are carried out at regular intervals. Grassland management techniques, such as controlled burning , are effected annually to avoid forest fires . Observing
1624-423: A product due to many other people buying it, while the latter is similar but with one distinct difference: people will clamour to buy something if it denotes wealth that only a few elites could possibly afford. Therefore, the snob effect would offset some of the gains made by anti-poaching laws, regulations, or practices: if a portion of the supply is cut off, the rarity and price of the object would increase, and only
1740-430: A select few would have the desire and purchasing power for it. While approaches to dilute mitigate poaching from a supply-side may not be the best option as people can become more willing to purchase rarer items, especially in countries gaining more wealth and therefore higher demand for illicit goods—Frederick Chen still advocates that we should also focus on exploring ways to reduce the demand for these goods to better stop
1856-464: A shoot-to-kill policy against poachers in 2013 as a "legitimate conservation strategy" and "a necessary evil", which has reduced poaching to the point it is thought to be "virtually non-existent" in the country, and that neighbouring countries like South Africa should also adopt similar measures in order to save wildlife from extinction. In May 2018, the Kenyan government announced that poachers will face
1972-560: A simple one to solve as traditional methods to counter poaching have not taken into the account the poverty levels that drive some poachers and the lucrative profits made by organized crime syndicates who deal in illegal wildlife trafficking. Conservationists hope the new emerging multi-lateral approach, which would include the public, conservation groups, and the police, will be successful for the future of these animals. Some game wardens have made use of robotic decoy animals placed in high visibility areas to draw out poachers for arrest after
2088-504: A strong cultural impact, which has persisted until today. Poaching was used as a dare. It had a certain erotic connotation, as in Franz Schubert 's Hunter's love song, (1828, Schubert Thematic Catalogue 909). The lyrics of Franz von Schober connected unlimited hunting with the pursuit of love. Further poaching related legends and stories ranged from the 1821 opera Freischütz to Wolfgang Franz von Kobell 's 1871 story about
2204-581: Is Dambukso. 26°10′N 93°30′E / 26.167°N 93.500°E / 26.167; 93.500 This article about a location in the Indian state of Assam is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kaziranga National Park Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat , Sonitpur , Biswanath and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam , India . KNP has 5 ranges. The park, which hosts two-thirds of
2320-416: Is a difference in altitude between the eastern and western areas of the park, 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 maintain and fertilize
2436-427: Is a latest attraction to the tourists. It houses more than 500 species of orchids, 132 varieties of sour fruits and leafy vegetables, 12 species of cane, 46 species of bamboo and a large varieties of local fishes. Tourism benefits the people living in the fringe of the park and helps in empowering the local people. As of 2007, about 35 hotels or lodges of various kinds located just outside the park, four of which run by
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#17327724772962552-457: Is a natural material of several animals, plays a large part in the trade of illegal animal materials and poaching. Ivory is a material used in creating art objects and jewelry where the ivory is carved with designs. China is a consumer of the ivory trade and accounts for a significant amount of ivory sales. In 2012, The New York Times reported on a large upsurge in ivory poaching, with about 70% of all illegal ivory flowing to China. Fur
2668-409: Is also a natural material which is sought after by poachers. A Gamsbart , literally chamois beard , a tuft of hair traditionally worn as a decoration on trachten -hats in the alpine regions of Austria and Bavaria formerly was worn as a hunting (and poaching) trophy. In the past, it was made exclusively from hair from the chamois ' lower neck. There are different anti-poaching efforts around
2784-711: Is an organization that works to equip and train wildlife protection teams and lobbies African governments to adopt anti-poaching campaigns. Jim Nyamu 's elephant walks are part of attempts in Kenya to reduce ivory poaching. In 2013, the Tanzanian Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism urged that poachers be shot on sight in an effort to stop the mass killing of elephants. Since December 2016, anti-poaching police units in Namibia are permitted to return fire on poachers if fired upon. The government of Botswana adopted
2900-524: Is at the Bagori range of Kaziranga to help visitors learn more about the park. The park remains closed for visitors from May to October due to monsoon rains. Four tourist lodges at Kohora and three tourist lodges outside the park are maintained by the Department of Environment and Forests, Government of Assam . Private resorts are available outside the park borders. Increase in tourist inflow has led to
3016-517: Is being put on the fast track to implementation by Kenyan lawmakers. Large quantities of ivory are sometimes destroyed as a statement against poaching, a.k.a. " ivory crush ". In 2013 the Philippines were the first country to destroy their national seized ivory stock. In 2014, China followed suit and crushed six tons of ivory as a symbolic statement against poaching. There are two main solutions according to Frederick Chen that would attack
3132-578: Is home to a variety of migratory birds, water birds, predators, scavengers, and game birds. Birds such as the lesser white-fronted goose , ferruginous duck , Baer's pochard duck and lesser adjutant , greater adjutant , black-necked stork , and Asian openbill stork migrate from Central Asia to the park during winter. Riverine birds include the Blyth's kingfisher , white-bellied heron , Dalmatian pelican , spot-billed pelican , Nordmann's greenshank , and black-bellied tern . Birds of prey include
3248-511: Is made of keratin , advocates say the procedure is painless for the animal. Another strategy being used to counter rhino poachers in Africa is called RhODIS, which is a database that compiles rhino DNA from confiscated horns and other goods that were being illegally traded, as well as DNA recovered from poaching sites. RhODIS cross-references the DNA as it searches for matches; if a match is found, it
3364-416: Is mild and dry, with a mean high of 25 °C (77 °F ) and low of 5 °C (41 °F ). During this season, beels and nullahs (water channels) dry up. The summer season between March and May is hot, with temperatures reaching a high of 37 °C (99 °F ). During this season, animals usually are found near water bodies. The rainy monsoon season lasts from June to September, and
3480-433: Is preferred for birding. Local people get employment from the park in the form of labour and allied activities. Labour requirements for the park include labour for anti-poaching activities and construction of bridges, culverts, etc. Approximately 100 to 200 people are hired per range for removal of Mimosa , a weed which is harmful for the herbivores. As of 2007 the park authorities have also hired security guards to protect
3596-650: Is received under the Project Elephant from the Central Government. Most of this funding is used in paying wages and salaries of the staff and in anti-poaching measures, only a little sum is left behind for the development of the park. In spite of the funding from the government the park faces shortage of funds. In 1997–1998, a grant of US$ 100,000 was received under the Technical Co-operation for Security Reinforcement scheme from
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3712-492: Is responsible for most of Kaziranga's annual rainfall of 2,220 mm (87 in). During the peak months of July and August, three-fourths of the western region of the park is submerged, due to the rising water level of the Brahmaputra. Each time a flood comes, 70％~80％ percent of the national park is inundated for 5–10 days at a time. The flooding causes most animals to migrate to elevated and forested regions outside
3828-435: Is responsible for the administration and management of Kaziranga. The administrative head of the park is the director, who is a Chief Conservator of Forests-level officer. A divisional Forest Officer is the administrative chief executive of the park. He is assisted by two officers with the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests. The park area is divided into five ranges, overseen by Range Forest Officers. The five ranges are
3944-600: Is the Core Zone of the Tiger Reserve or a Strict Nature Reserve , where casual visitors are not permitted. The Western range has Baguri as the entry point and covers the Monabeel, Bimoli, Kanchanjuri areas. This range is preferred for seeing big game like rhinos and water buffaloes. The Eastern range with Agortoli as the entry point covers Sohola and Rangamatia. This is 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Kohora and
4060-423: Is the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights . Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and to supplement meager diets. It was set against the hunting privileges of nobility and territorial rulers. Since the 1980s, the term "poaching" has also been used to refer to the illegal harvesting of wild plants. In agricultural terms,
4176-493: Is used to track down the poachers. Africa's Wildlife Trust seeks to protect African elephant populations from poaching activities in Tanzania. Hunting for ivory was banned in 1989, but poaching of elephants continues in many parts of Africa stricken by economic decline. The International Anti-Poaching Foundation has a structured military -like approach to conservation, employing tactics and technology generally reserved for
4292-918: 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. Following a decreasing trend for the past few years, 18 Indian rhinoceroses were killed by poachers in 2007. Reports have suggested that there are links between these poaching activities and funding of terrorist organizations. But these could not be substantiated in later years. Preventive measures such as construction of anti-poaching camps and maintenance of existing ones, patrolling, intelligence gathering, and control over
4408-715: The Highland Clearances , both of which were forced displacement of people from traditional land tenancies and erstwhile-common land. The 19th century saw the rise of acts of legislation, such as the Night Poaching Act 1828 and the Game Act 1831 ( 1 & 2 Will. 4 . c. 32) in the United Kingdom, and various laws elsewhere. In North America, the blatant defiance of the laws by poachers escalated to armed conflicts with law authorities, including
4524-727: The Mora Diphlu , which forms the southern boundary. Other notable rivers within the park are the Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri . Kaziranga has flat expanses of fertile, alluvial soil , formed by erosion and silt deposition by the River Brahmaputra. The landscape consists of exposed sandbars , riverine flood-formed lakes known as, beels , (which make up 5% of the surface area), and elevated regions known as, chapories , which provide retreats and shelter for animals during floods. Many artificial chapories have been built with
4640-723: The Oyster Wars of the Chesapeake Bay and the joint US-British Bering Sea Anti-Poaching Operations of 1891 over the hunting of seals. In the Chesapeake Bay in the 1930s one of the biggest threats to waterfowl was local poachers using flat boats with swivel cannons that killed entire flocks with one shot . Violations of hunting laws and regulations concerning wildlife management , local or international wildlife conservation schemes constitute wildlife crimes that are typically punishable. The following violations and offenses are considered acts of poaching in
4756-562: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly support rural tourism in village of Durgapur, which falls in the periphery of the Kohora range of Kaziranga along with other initiatives at 31 sites across India. Authorised guides of the forest department accompany all travelers inside the park. Mahout -guided elephant rides and Jeep or other 4WD vehicles rides are booked in advance. Starting from
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4872-534: The World Heritage Fund . Additional funding is also received from national and international Non-governmental organizations . There are three dirt tracks inside the park corresponding to the three forest ranges of the park for patrolling and to view wildlife by the tourists. The Central or Kaziranga range with Kohora as the entry point covers the Daglang and Foliomari area. Some part of this range
4988-546: The chital , Indian muntjac , Indian boar and Indian hog deer . Kaziranga has the largest population of the Wild water buffalo anywhere accounting for about 57% of the world population. The Indian rhinoceros, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo and swamp deer are collectively known as 'Big Five' of Kaziranga. Kaziranga is one of the few wild breeding areas outside Africa for multiple species of large cats, such as Bengal tigers and Indian leopard . Kaziranga
5104-490: The common law and served to protect game animals and their forest habitat from hunting by the common people of England, while reserving hunting rights for the new French-speaking Anglo-Norman aristocracy. Henceforth, hunting of game in royal forests by commoners was punishable by hanging. In 1087, the poem " The Rime of King William ", contained in the Peterborough Chronicle , expressed English indignation at
5220-458: The death penalty , as fines and life imprisonment have "not been deterrence enough to curb poaching, hence the proposed stiffer sentence". Human rights organizations oppose the move, but wildlife advocates support it. Save the Rhino , a UK-based wildlife advocacy organization notes that in Kenya, 23 rhinos and 156 elephants were killed by poachers between 2016 and 2017. As of March 2019, the measure
5336-605: The endemic Assam roofed turtle and one species of tortoise, the brown tortoise . 42 species of fish are found in the area, including the Tetraodon . Four main types of vegetation exist in this 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
5452-416: The swamp francolin , Bengal florican , and pale-capped pigeon . Other families of birds inhabiting Kaziranga include the great pied hornbill and wreathed hornbill , Old World babblers such as Jerdon's and marsh babblers , weaver birds such as the common baya weaver , threatened Finn's weavers , and bristled grassbird . Other threatened species include the black-breasted parrotbill Two of
5568-433: The tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome, and the frequently-flooded Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands of the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome. Kaziranga is also surrounded by lush green tea plantations, most of them contributing heavily to Assam's economy. The park experiences three seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. The winter season, between November and February,
5684-570: The 14 primate species found in India occur in the park. Prominent among them are the Assamese macaque , capped and golden langur , as well as the only ape found in India, the hoolock gibbon . The binturong and the Asian small-clawed otter were recorded in the park in the year 2024. Kaziranga's rivers are also home to the endangered Ganges dolphin . Kaziranga has been identified by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area . It
5800-478: The 1996 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Prix Litteraire d'Amis , providing publicity simultaneously to the profession of mahouts as well as to Kaziranga. In 2017, Kaziranga came under severe criticism after a BBC News documentary revealed a hardliner strategy to conservation, reporting the killing of 20 people a year in the name of rhino conservation. As a consequence of this reporting, BBC News
5916-524: The Brandner Kasper, a Tegernsee locksmith and poacher who struck a special deal with the Grim Reaper . While poachers had strong local support until the early 20th century, Walder's case showed a significant change in attitudes. Urban citizens still had some sympathy for the hillbilly rebel, but the local community were much supportive. Poaching, like smuggling , has a long history in
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#17327724772966032-635: The Burapahar (HQ: Ghorakati), Western (HQ: Baguri), Central (HQ: Kohora), Eastern (HQ: Agaratoli) and Northern (HQ: Biswanath). Each range is further sub-divided into beats, headed by a forester, and sub-beats, headed by a forest guard. The park receives financial aid from the State Government as well as the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change of Government of India under various Plan and Non-Plan Budgets. Additional funding
6148-716: The Kanchanjhuri, Panbari, and Tamulipathar blocks, contain trees such as Aphanamixis polystachya , Talauma hodgsonii , Dillenia indica , Garcinia tinctoria , Ficus rumphii , Cinnamomum bejolghota , and species of Syzygium . Tropical semi-evergreen forests are present near Baguri, Bimali, and Haldibari. Common trees and shrubs are Albizia procera , Duabanga grandiflora , Lagerstroemia speciosa , Crateva unilocularis , Sterculia urens , Grewia serrulata , Mallotus philippensis , Bridelia retusa , Aphania rubra , Leea indica , and Leea umbraculifera . There are many different aquatic floras in
6264-602: The Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was created with an area of 232 km (90 sq mi). Over the next three years, the park area was extended by 152 km (59 sq mi), to the banks of the Brahmaputra River . In 1908, Kaziranga was designated a "Reserve Forest". In 1916, it was redesignated the "Kaziranga Game Sanctuary" and remained so till 1938, when hunting was prohibited and visitors were permitted to enter
6380-624: The Park Administrative Centre at Kohora , these rides can follow the three motorable trails under the jurisdiction of three ranges—Kohora, Bagori, and Agaratoli. These trails are open for light vehicles from November to April. Visitors willing to view wild life by motorcars are guided through these roads by the staff of this department. Visitors are allowed to take their own vehicles when accompanied by guides. Buses owned by Assam State Transport Corporation and private agencies between Guwahati , Tezpur , and Upper Assam stop at
6496-563: The US: Stephen Corry, the director of the human rights group Survival International , has argued that the term "poaching" has at times been used to criminalize the traditional subsistence techniques of indigenous peoples and to bar them from hunting on their ancestral lands when they are declared as wildlife-only zones. Corry argues that parks such as the Central Kalahari Game Reserve are managed for
6612-620: The United Kingdom. The verb poach is derived from the Middle English word pocchen literally meaning bagged , enclosed in a bag , which is cognate with "pouch". Poaching was dispassionately reported for England in "Pleas of the Forest", transgressions of the rigid Anglo-Norman forest law . William the Conqueror , who was a great lover of hunting, established and enforced a system of forest law. This system operated outside
6728-712: The United States, the key motives for poaching are poverty. Interviews conducted with 41 poachers in the Atchafalaya River basin in Louisiana revealed that 37 of them hunt to provide food for themselves and their families; 11 stated that poaching is part of their personal or cultural history; nine earn money from the sale of poached game to support their families; and eight feel exhilarated and thrilled by outsmarting game wardens . In rural areas in Africa ,
6844-414: The animals prefer to remain near the water sources especially around the numerous perennial beels and water streams inside the park. During the monsoon, the shallow beels and the nullahs start to get filled up, firstly by the monsoon showers and later by the floodwaters. The animals gradually start moving towards higher grounds, which are situated around the tree forests. When the flood water covers most of
6960-868: The area seem to bear testimony to this assertion. Kaziranga is located between latitudes 26°30' N and 26°45' N, and longitudes 93°08' E to 93°36' E within three districts in the Indian state of Assam —the Kaliabor subdivision of Nagaon district , Bokajan subdivision of Karbi Anglong and the Bokakhat subdivision of Golaghat district . The park is approximately 40 km (25 mi) in length from east to west, and 13 km (8 mi) in breadth from north to south. Kaziranga covers an area of 378 km (146 sq mi), with approximately 51.14 km (20 sq mi) lost to erosion in recent years. A total addition of 429 km (166 sq mi) along
7076-608: The areas the animals migrate to the nearby Karbi Anglong Hills and other adjoining areas. 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 Indian rhinoceros (2,401), wild water buffalo (1,666) and eastern swamp deer (468). Significant populations of large herbivores include Indian elephants (1,940), gaur (1300) and sambar (58). Small herbivores include
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#17327724772967192-528: The battlefield. Founder Damien Mander is an advocate of the use of military equipment and tactics, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles , for military-style anti-poaching operations. Such military-style approaches have been criticised for failing to resolve the underlying reasons for poaching, but to neither tackle "the role of global trading networks" nor the continued demand for animal products. Instead, they "result in coercive, unjust and counterproductive approaches to wildlife conservation". Chengeta Wildlife
7308-617: The benefit of foreign tourists and safari groups at the expense of the livelihoods of tribal peoples such as the Kalahari bushmen . Sociological and criminological research on poaching indicates that in North America people poach for commercial gain, home consumption, trophies , pleasure, and thrill in killing wildlife or because they disagree with certain hunting regulations, claim a traditional right to hunt, or have negative dispositions toward legal authority. In rural areas of
7424-481: The black market. Such alternative medical beliefs are pseudoscientific and are not supported by evidence-based medicine . Traditional Chinese medicine often incorporates ingredients from all parts of plants, the leaf, stem, flower, root, and also ingredients from animals and minerals. The use of parts of endangered species (such as seahorses , rhinoceros horns, binturong , pangolin scales and tiger bones and claws) has created controversy and resulted in
7540-410: The burnt patches and relish the ash and the partially burnt stems of the reeds. With few winter showers fresh grass blades shoot up in the burnt patches attracting larger number of animals to these areas. With the onset of the summer season the grasses in the burnt patches grow up quickly and the tender shoots turn into coarse blades, which no longer attract the animals. The temperature also goes up and
7656-482: The common criminal activity is encapsulated in the observation Non est inquirendum, unde venit venison ("It is not to be inquired, whence comes the venison") that was made by Guillaume Budé in his Traitte de la vénerie . However, the English nobility and land owners were in the long term extremely successful in enforcing the modern concept of property, such as expressed in the enclosures of common land and later in
7772-528: The conservation movement for tigers too. In July 2019, rhino horns encased in plaster were seized in Vietnam that were being trafficked from the United Arab Emirates . Despite the ban on trade since the 1970s, poaching level of rhino horns has risen over the last decade, leading the rhino population into crisis. Poaching has many causes in both Africa and China. The issue of poaching is not
7888-552: The demand for their ivory tusks. This ivory then goes on to be used in jewelry, musical instruments, and other trinkets. Members of the Rhino Rescue Project have implemented a technique to combat rhino poaching in South Africa by injecting a mixture of indelible dye and a parasiticide into the animals' horns, which enables tracking of the horns and deters consumption of the horn by purchasers. Since rhino horn
8004-524: The economic empowerment of the people living at the fringes of the park, by means of tourism related activities, encouraging a recognition of the value of its protection. A survey of tourists notes that 80 percent found rhino sightings most enjoyable and that foreign tourists were more likely to support park protection and employment opportunities financially, while local tourists favored support for veterinary services. Recently set up Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park established at Durgapur village
8120-505: The economy of the region, but Kaziranga has remained unaffected by the movement; indeed, instances of rebels from the United Liberation Front of Assam protecting the animals and, in extreme cases, killing poachers, have been reported since the 1980s. Although the etymology of the name Kaziranga is not certain, there exist a number of possible explanations derived from local legends and records. According to one legend,
8236-627: The edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot , the park combines high species diversity and visibility. Kaziranga is a vast expanse of tall elephant grass , marshland , and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests , criss-crossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra , and the park includes numerous small bodies of water. Kaziranga has been the theme of several books, songs, and documentaries. The park celebrated its centennial in 2005 after its establishment in 1905 as
8352-575: The frontier regions, where smuggling was important, showed especially strong resistance to that development. In 1849, the Bavarian military forces were asked to occupy a number of municipalities on the frontier with Austria. Both in Wallgau (now part of Garmisch-Partenkirchen ) and in Lackenhäuser, in the Bavarian forest, each household had to feed and accommodate one soldier for a month as part of
8468-417: The functionality of ecosystems is disturbed. Austria and Germany refer to poaching not as theft but as intrusion into third-party hunting rights. While ancient Germanic law allowed any free man, including peasants, to hunt, especially on common land , Roman law restricted hunting to the rulers. In medieval Europe rulers of feudal territories from the king downward tried to enforce exclusive rights of
8584-601: The game as close as 30 m (100 ft). Poachers in the Salzburg region were typically unmarried men around 30 years of age and usually alone on their illegal trade. The development of modern hunting rights is closely connected to the comparatively modern idea of exclusive private ownership of land. In the 17th and the 18th centuries, the restrictions on hunting and shooting rights on private property were enforced by gamekeepers and foresters. They denied shared usage of forests, such as resin collection and wood pasture and
8700-410: The government. They employ about 300 people. Some families also offer home stay facilities just outside the park so that the tourists may get a taste of the local life and host can drive and guide visitors into the park. There are also 26 shops selling souvenirs and locally handmade woven cloth that are owned and/or managed by local community members. The Ministry of Tourism , Government of India and
8816-419: 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). Thick evergreen forests, near
8932-423: The growth of short grasses cover up their beds. The grasses also grow around the perennial beels. With the end of the monsoon season, herbivorous animals, especially the rhinoceros , rush into these areas for grazing. In the other parts of the park the tall coarse grasses dry up by the month of December and January and are then control burnt by the park staff. After such burning some animals begin to concentrate in
9048-467: The harvest season and during heavy rains, as before the harvest season, there is not much agricultural work, and heavy rainfall obscures human tracks and makes it easier for poachers to get away with their crimes. Poverty seems to be a large impetus to cause people to poach, something that affects both residents in Africa and Asia. For example, in Thailand , there are anecdotal accounts of the desire for
9164-527: The help of the Indian Army to ensure the safety of the animals. Kaziranga is one of the largest tracts of protected land in the sub-Himalayan belt, and due to the presence of highly diverse and visible species, has been described as a " biodiversity hotspot ". The park is located in the Indomalayan realm , and the dominant ecoregions of the region are Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests of
9280-468: The illegal harvest of wildlife with the intention of possessing , transporting , consuming or selling it and using its body parts. They considered poaching as one of the most serious threats to the survival of plant and animal populations. Wildlife biologists and conservationists consider poaching to have a detrimental effect on biodiversity both within and outside protected areas as wildlife populations decline, species are depleted locally, and
9396-575: The key motives for poaching are the lack of employment opportunities and a limited potential for agriculture and livestock production . Poor people rely on natural resources for their survival and generate cash income through the sale of bushmeat , which attracts high prices in urban centres. Body parts of wildlife are also in demand for traditional medicine and ceremonies. The existence of an international market for poached wildlife implies that well-organised gangs of professional poachers enter vulnerable areas to hunt, and crime syndicates organise
9512-561: The lakes and ponds, and along the river shores. The invasive water hyacinth is very common, often choking the water bodies, but it is cleared during destructive floods. Another invasive species, Mimosa invisa , which is toxic to herbivores, was cleared by Kaziranga staff with help from the Wildlife Trust of India in 2005. The Wildlife wing of the forest department of the Government of Assam, headquartered at Bokakhat ,
9628-501: The largest snakes in the world, the reticulated python and Indian rock python , as well as the longest venomous snake in the world, the king cobra , inhabit the park. Other snakes found here include the Indian cobra , monocled cobra , Russell's viper , and the common krait . Monitor lizard species found in the park include the Bengal monitor and the Asian water monitor . Other reptiles include fifteen species of turtle , such as
9744-496: The local communities to understand the impact of tiger poaching—they achieved this through targeted advertising that would impact the main audience. Targeting advertising using more violent imagery to show the disparity between tigers in nature and as a commodity made a great impact on the general population to combat poaching and indifference towards this problem. The use of spokespeople such as Jackie Chan and other famous Asian actors and models who advocated against poaching also helped
9860-675: The main gate of Kaziranga on NH 37 at Kohora. The nearest town is Bokakhat, Golaghat situated at 23 km and 65 km away. Major cities near the park are Guwahati, Dimapur and Jorhat . Furkating 75 kilometres (47 mi), which is under the supervision of Northeast Frontier Railway , is the nearest railway station. Jorhat Airport at Rowriah (97 kilometres (60 mi) away), Tezpur Airport at Salonibari (100 kilometres (62 mi) away), Dimapur Airport 172 kilometres (107 mi) and Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati (217 kilometres (135 mi) away) are
9976-502: The major reasons of poaching is for consumption and sale of bushmeat . Usually, bushmeat is considered a subset of poaching because of the hunting of animals regardless of the laws that conserve certain species of animals. Many families consume more bushmeat if there are no alternative sources of protein available such as fish. The further the families were from the reserve, the less likely they were to illegally hunt wildlife for bushmeat. They were more likely to hunt for bushmeat right before
10092-648: The matter, calling out BBC for the carelessness of its journalism, but also pointing to the problems of conservation in Kaziranga and questioning whether shoot-at-sight has been a useful conservation strategy at all. Kaziranga Tiger Reserve estimated its annual flow benefits to be 9.8 billion rupees (0.95 lakh / hectare). Important ecosystem services included habitat and refugia for wildlife (5.73 billion), gene-pool protection (3.49 billion), recreation value (21 million), biological control (150 million) and sequestration of carbon (17 million). Poaching Poaching
10208-461: The nearby airports. Transportation is also available from Guwahati to Kaziranga National Park and other places in Assam and Nagaland . Kaziranga has been the theme of, or has been mentioned in, several books, songs, and documentaries. The park first gained international prominence after Robin Banerjee , a physician-turned-photographer and filmmaker, produced a documentary titled Kaziranga , which
10324-405: The nobility to hunt and fish on the lands that they ruled. Poaching was deemed a serious crime punishable by imprisonment, but enforcement was comparably weak until the 16th century. Peasants were still allowed to continue small game hunting, but the right of the nobility to hunt was restricted in the 16th century and transferred to land ownership. The low quality of guns made it necessary to approach
10440-474: The overflow of the river Brahmaputra, leading to significant losses of animal life. In 2024, six dead rhinos along with hundreds of deer were tallied as drowned by the rising water. Encroachment by people along the periphery has also led to a diminished forest cover and a loss of habitat. An ongoing separatist movement in Assam led by the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has crippled
10556-417: 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
10672-452: The park. . In 1934 Kaziranga was changed to Kaziranha. A few people call it by its original name till today. The Kaziranga Game Sanctuary was renamed the "Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary" in 1950 by P. D. Stracey, the forest conservationist, in order to rid the name of hunting connotations. In 1954, the government of Assam passed the Assam (Rhinoceros) Bill, which imposed heavy penalties for rhinoceros poaching . Fourteen years later, in 1968,
10788-402: The peasants right to hunt and fish. However, by end of the 18th century, comparably-easy access to rifles increasingly allowed peasants and servants to poach. Hunting was used in the 18th century as a theatrical demonstration of the aristocratic rule of the land and also had a strong impact on land use patterns. Poaching not only interfered with property rights but also clashed symbolically with
10904-558: The power of the nobility. Between 1830 and 1848, poaching and poaching-related deaths increased in Bavaria . The German revolutions of 1848–49 were interpreted as a general permission for poaching in Bavaria. The reform of the hunting law in 1849 restricted legal hunting to rich landowners and middle classes who could pay hunting fees, which led to disappointment among the general public, who continued to view poachers favourably. Some of
11020-493: The present boundary of the park has been made and designated with separate national park status to provide extended habitat for increasing the population of wildlife or, as a corridor for safe movement of animals to Karbi Anglong Hills. Elevation ranges from 40 m (131 ft) to 80 m (262 ft). The park area is circumscribed by the Brahmaputra River, which forms the northern and eastern boundaries, and
11136-509: The problem of poaching. Indeed, there is some evidence that interventions to reduce consumer demand may be more effective for combatting poaching than continually increased policing to catch poachers. However, almost no groups deploying interventions that attempt to reduce consumer demand evaluate the impact of their actions. Another solution to alleviate poaching proposed in Tigers of the World
11252-441: The rare eastern imperial , greater spotted , white-tailed , Pallas's fish eagle , grey-headed fish eagle , and the lesser kestrel . Kaziranga was once home to seven species of vultures , but the vulture population reached near extinction, supposedly by feeding on animal carcasses containing the drug Diclofenac . Only the Indian vulture , slender-billed vulture , and white-rumped vulture have survived. Game birds include
11368-632: The severe new laws. Poaching was romanticised in literature from the time of the ballads of Robin Hood , as an aspect of the "greenwood" of Merry England . In one tale, Robin Hood is depicted as offering King Richard the Lion Heart venison from deer that was illegally hunted in the Sherwood Forest, the King overlooking the fact that this hunting was a capital offence. The widespread acceptance of
11484-487: The southern border of the park, such as the Mikir hills . 540 animals, including 13 rhinos and mostly hog deer perished in unprecedented floods of 2012. However, occasional dry spells create problems as well, such as food shortages and occasional forest fires. Seasonal variations in the vegetation and habitat of the animal is notable in the park. During winter the shallow beels and nullahs (small water channel) dry up and
11600-421: The southern boundary of the park. To prevent the spread of diseases and to 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. Water pollution due to run-off from pesticides from tea gardens, and run-off from
11716-521: The state government passed the Assam National Park Act of 1968, declaring Kaziranga a designated national park. The 430 km (166 sq mi) park was given official status by the central government on 11 February 1974. In 1985, Kaziranga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique natural environment. Kaziranga has been the target of several natural and man-made calamities in recent decades. Floods caused by
11832-404: The supply side of this poaching problem to reduce its effects: enforcing and enacting more policies and laws for conservation and by encouraging local communities to protect the wildlife around them by giving them more land rights. Nonetheless, Frederick Chen wrote about two types of effects stemming from demand-side economics : the bandwagon and snob effect. The former deals with people desiring
11948-516: The taking of action on dealing with poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna to ensure their availability for present and future generations. In 1998, environmental scientists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst proposed the concept of poaching as an environmental crime and defined as any illegal activity that contravenes the laws and regulations established to protect renewable natural resources , including
12064-433: The term 'poaching' is also applied to the loss of soils or grass by the damaging action of feet of livestock, which can affect availability of productive land, water pollution through increased runoff and welfare issues for cattle. Stealing livestock , as in cattle raiding classifies as theft , not as poaching. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 15 enshrines the sustainable use of all wildlife. It targets
12180-464: The tourist jeeps inside the park. The park has developed a very good network of intelligence throughout the villages surrounding the park. There are key informants in every village, which reports about the movement of poachers and are monetarily compensated for information they provide to the park authorities. Kaziranga National Park has been granted maximum protection under the Indian law for wildlife conservation. Various laws, which range in dates from
12296-514: The trafficking of wildlife body parts through a complex interlinking network to markets outside the respective countries of origin. Armed conflict in Africa has been linked to intensified poaching and wildlife declines within protected areas, likely reflecting the disruption of traditional livelihoods, which causes people to seek alternative food sources. Results of an interview survey conducted in several villages in Tanzania indicate that one of
12412-497: The upper class, and they are still thought to have mysterious medicinal and healthcare effects. The detrimental effects of poaching can include: The body parts of many animals, such as tigers and rhinoceroses , are traditionally believed in some cultures to have certain positive effects on the human body, including increasing virility and curing cancer . These parts are sold in areas where these beliefs are practiced – mostly Asian countries particularly Vietnam and China – on
12528-414: The use of firearms around the park have reduced the number of casualties. Since 2013, the park used cameras on drones which are monitored by security guards to protect the rhino from armed poachers. Perennial flooding and heavy rains have resulted in the death of wild animals and damage to the conservation infrastructures. To escape the water-logged areas, many animals migrate to elevated regions outside
12644-474: The wildlife , including birding , is the main visitor activity in and around the park. Guided tours by elephant or Jeep are available. Hiking is prohibited in the park to avoid potential human-animal conflicts. Observation towers are situated at Sohola, Mihimukh, Kathpara, Foliamari, and Harmoti for wildlife viewing. The snow-covered Lower Himalayan peaks frame the park's landscape of trees and grass interspersed with numerous ponds . An interpretation centre
12760-600: The word Kazi in the Karbi language means "goat", and Rangai means "red". Some historians believe, however, that the name Kaziranga was derived from the Karbi word Kajir-a-rong , which means "the village of Kajir" ( kajiror gaon ). Among the Karbis , Kajir is a common name for a girl child, and it was believed that a woman named Kajir once ruled over the area. Fragments of monoliths associated with Karbi rule found scattered in
12876-547: The world's Indian rhinoceroses , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . According to a March 2018 census conducted jointly by the Forest Department of the Government of Assam and some recognized wildlife NGOs, the rhino population in Kaziranga National Park is 2,613. It comprises 1,641 adult rhinos and 385 calves. In 2015, the rhino population stood at 2,401. Kaziranga National Park was declared
12992-453: The world. And research suggests that such work may be more effective at improving populations affected by poaching than protected area expansion. The Traffic conservation programme brings to light many of the poaching areas and trafficking routes and helps to clamp down on the smuggling routes the poachers use to get the ivory to areas of high demand, predominantly Asia. As many as 35,000 African elephants are slaughtered yearly to feed
13108-498: Was about how to implement a multi-lateral strategy that targets different parties to conserve wild tiger populations in general. This multi-lateral approach include working with different agencies to fight and prevent poaching since organized crime syndicates benefit from tiger poaching and trafficking; therefore, there is a need to raise social awareness and implement more protection and investigative techniques. For example, conservation groups raised more awareness amongst park rangers and
13224-734: Was aired on television in Berlin in 1961 and became a runaway success. American science fiction and fantasy author , L. Sprague de Camp wrote about the park in his poem, " Kaziranga, Assam " . It was first published in 1970 in Demons and Dinosaurs , a poetry collection, and was reprinted as Kaziranga in Years in the Making: the Time-Travel Stories of L. Sprague de Camp in 2005. Kaziranga Trail ( Children's Book Trust , 1979),
13340-479: Was banned from filming in protected areas in India for 5 years. While several news reports claimed that BBC had apologized for the documentary, the BBC stood by its report, with its director general, Tony Hall, writing in a letter to Survival International that "the letter 'in no way constitutes an apology for our journalism. ' " As a response to the report, researchers in India have provided more nuanced understanding of
13456-530: Was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2006 . Other felids include the jungle cat , fishing cat and leopard cat . It is also the only place in India and the world, where a Golden tiger was spotted in the wild. Small mammals include the rare hispid hare , Indian gray mongoose , small Indian mongooses , large Indian civet , small Indian civets , Bengal fox , golden jackal , sloth bear , Chinese pangolin , Indian pangolins , hog badger , Chinese ferret-badger , and particoloured flying squirrel . Nine of
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