Kaziranga National Park
Context: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has told the Supreme Court that illegal mining has continued and intensified in Assam's Parkup Pahar area near the Kaziranga National Park, despite a 2019 top court order banning all mining and related activities in and around the park's eco-sensitive zone.
Important Pointers:
Location: Situated in Assam, northeastern India, Kaziranga National Park is the largest undisturbed area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Declared in 1985 for its exceptional natural environment and biodiversity.
Terrain: Comprises tall elephant grasslands, marshes, shallow pools, and semi-evergreen forests.
Rivers: The Diphlu River flows through the park, while National Highway 37 passes along its southern boundary.
Flora: Dominated by tall elephant grass, water lilies, water hyacinths, and lotus.
Fauna: Home to the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, along with tigers, elephants, wild water buffaloes, swamp deer, hoolock gibbons, capped langurs, and Gangetic River dolphins.
Conservation Status: Designated as a Tiger Reserve in 2007, with significant populations of tigers, elephants, and another megafauna.
Biodiversity Significance: Recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International, supporting numerous migratory bird species.
Management: Administered by the Assam Forest Department under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Threats: Facing challenges like poaching, flooding, encroachment, and highway traffic affecting wildlife corridors.
List of National Parks in Assam:
Kaziranga National Park - (Declared in 1974). (Largest NP of Assam)
Manas National Park - (Declared in 1990).
Nameri National Park - (Declared in 1998).
Dibru Saikhowa National Park - (Declared in 1999).
Orang National Park - (Declared in 1999). (Smallest NP of Assam)
Dehing Patkai National Park - (Declared in 2020).
Raimona National Park - (Declared in 2021).
Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park - (Declared in 2025).