Kaziranga National Park is counted amongst one of the finest and most picturesque wildlife parks in India. Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary is world-famous for being the only natural habitat of the Great one-horned Rhinoceros and Wild Buffalos. Located on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra River, Kaziranga covers an area of approximately 430 sq km, which chiefly comprises of the swamps and tall thickets of elephant grass and patches of evergreen forest. Kaziranga was officially declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1940 and attained the status of a national park in 1976. Later in 1985, the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The determined efforts of the Indian government and wildlife officials, the almost distinct population of one-horned Rhinos has risen from merely 12 in early 1990's to more than a thousand Rhinos now.
A moderate climate combined with the availability of enough food resources supports the growth and survival of a unique and diverse wildlife in Kaziranga National Park. Apart from being a rich natural habitat for the great Indian One-horned Rhinos, Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary also has a sizable population of the Wild Buffalos and Indian Elephants. Herds of wild elephants, some times numbering up to 200, can be seen migrating from the Mikir hills to the bheels (marshes or ox-bow lakes), offering the most spectacular view to the wildlife enthusiasts.
Kaziranga National Park also shelters about 15 species of India's threatened mammals. Apart from the above mentioned three, other most notable wildlife of Kaziranga National Park include the majestic Tigers, the main predator of the sanctuary and the only natural enemy of the Rhinos, Leopards, Barasinghas (Swamp Deer), Hog Deer, Barking Deer, Sambar, Pygmy Hog, Sloth Bears, Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Leopard Cats, Chital, Para, Gibbons, Capped Langur, Rock Python, Monitor Lizards, water buffalos, and the odd Wild Boar. The Ganges Dolphins, Otters, Rock Pythons and other varieties of snakes, and Turtles are the other popular animals of the Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kaziranga National Park is also famous for its sizable population of exotic and rare birds. In addition to about 250 species of domestic birds, thousands of migratory birds, representing over 100 species, visit the park seasonally from as far as Siberia. Kaziranga is also home to some of the most endangered species of exotic and rare birds in India. The commonly seen birds in Kaziranga National Park include the Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Black-Shouldered Kite, Blue-breasted Quail, Himalayan Griffon, Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Rose-breasted Parakeet, Red Jungle Fowl, Swamp Partridge, White Tailed Eagle to name a few. The prominent migratory birds that visit the park during winters are Graylag Geese, Bar-Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck and Red-Crested Pochard among many others.
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