Waterbirds at Kaziranga 27% Increase
Source: The Hindu
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Overview
- News in Brief
- Census Finding
- Kaziranga National Park
Why in the News?
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded a 27% increase in resident and winter migratory waterbirds.
News in Brief
- Decided to conduct the census in major wetlands adjoining and within the reserve.
- The KazirangaHukuma Beel in Biswanath recorded 3,049 birds.
- Joysagar Doloni in Kaliabor recorded 1,765 birds, highlighting their conservation and protection.
Census Finding
- The fifth waterbird census was conducted.
- An initiative from January 9-10 across the 1,302 sq. km wildlife preserve revealed the presence of 84,839 birds.
- This was 18,063 more than the number recorded in 2021-22.
- Kaziranga is among the top five habitats of waterbirds in the country.
- The census was conducted simultaneously across 115 waterbodies in three divisions of the reserve.
- Eastern Assam Wildlife
- Nagaon Wildlife
- Biswanath Wildlife.
- The exercise was launched by Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on January 9.
- While 37,606 birds across 155 species were recorded in the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, 12,002 birds across 82 species were spotted in the Biswanath Wildlife Division.
Kaziranga National Park
- It is located in the Northeast Indian state of Assam.
- 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.
- It is a world heritage site, notified by the UNESCO in 1985.
- World’s largest population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros is seen in this park.
- The park is a shelter for the endangered Royal Bengal tiger and the Asian elephant.
- Brahmaputra River flows through this region.
- Another important fact is that Kaziranga contains significant breeding populations of 35 mammalian species of which 15 are threatened as per the IUCN Red List.
- Park also houses a variety of other wildlife, including tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, and numerous bird species.
- Flora
- The vegetation includes tall elephant grass, swamps, and dense forests, contributing to the overall ecological balance of the region.
- Safari tours, both elephant and jeep safaris, provide visitors with the opportunity to observe and appreciate the park’s diverse wildlife.
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