One of the few parks in the sub-continent where animals are as visible as in the African plains. Kaziranga encompasses extensive grasslands, lakes and forest. Known for the largest remaining population of one-horned rhinos, it is an equally important home for swamp deer, wild buffalo, hog deer, otters, Ganges dolphin and India's only ape, the Hoolock gibbon.
It provides wintering ground for bar-headed geese and other migratory waterfowl. Elephant rides are available from Mihimukh and a great way to safely see the fauna at close quarters. One could see wild elephant herds roaming around or rhinos browse past visitors unconcernedly. Since Kaziranga is easily accessible, it provides a chance to see animals in the wild at close quarters, thus making a trip to this National Park a very rewarding experience. The Park lies in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River,. The Kabri Angling Hill ranges rise around the park pressing it against the Brahmaputra River, flowing as its northern boundary. Into the soup plate between the river and the ranges, flow several rivulets. They bring down rich silt and sand, spread in small lakes, silt up the lakes to make swamp and marshes, alluvial grasslands rising to alluvial Savannah woodlands; and then as the land loses its moisture with height, rise to mixed deciduous forests and finally, to tropical evergreen forests. It is believed that if nature had not designed such a breathtakingly beautiful habitat, it would have been extremely difficult for man to create a national park with such natural diversities suited to a diverse range of animal species. Kaziranga National Park is the stronghold of the one horned rhinoceros. There are over 1000 rhinos in this reserve.
The wild elephant, another exotic animal of the region and often-found in herds number over 700 here. The wild buffalo is another attraction of the reserve and again there are over 6oo of these in the reserve. The mouse deer, the hog deer, barking deer, chinkara gazelle, bears, leopards, leopard cat, wild boars and the gaur are to be found here besides a variety of the primate family. The bird life of Kaziranga National Park is typical of the north-eastern Foothill of India.
The highlight of the bird life here are the sights of hundreds and hundreds of Pelicans, which breed here. The other birds commonly found here are Crested Serpent eagle, Pallas fishing eagle, grey - headed fishing eagle, swamp partridges, red jungle fowl, Bengal florican, bar headed goose, whistling teal, egrets, herons, black - necked stork, and open billed stork. |