Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park, scenic natural area in north-central Assam state, northeastern India. It is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, about 60 miles (100 km) west of Jorhat on the main road to Guwahati. First established in 1908 as a reserve forest, it subsequently was designated a game (1916) and wildlife (1950) sanctuary before becoming a national park in 1974. Kaziranga was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. The park was declared a tiger reserve in 2007.

Guesthouses perched above the main road at Kohora, near the southern boundary of the park, give a panoramic view of the Himalayas on the rare occasions when the sky is clear. There are several low watchtowers and organized safaris for viewing wildlife in the swampy terrain of the park.

Topography, flora, and fauna

The park has an area of some 502 square miles (1,302 square km) and lies between the Brahmaputra River and the Karbi (Mikir) Hills. In June 2025 the state government of Assam approved a plan to expand the park’s area by about 183 square miles (473 square km) to facilitate conservation efforts and boost tourism. Much of the park is marshland interspersed with large pools fringed with reeds, patches of elephant grass, scattered deciduous and semievergreen trees, and thickets. Seasonal flooding, riverbank erosion, sediment buildup, and new land formation, along with natural alterations between grassland and woodland ecosystems, shape the landscape of the park.

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One estimate suggests the presence of about 550 species of plants in the park. Major plant species include Albizia procera, Aphania rubra, Bombax ceiba, Bridelia retusa, Dillenia indica, Duabanga grandiflora, Emblica officinalis, and Lagerstroemia speciosa. More than 70 species of orchids have been recorded here. The bodies of water in the park also host many aquatic species, such as Nelumbo nucifera, Sagittaria species, and Vallisneria spiralis. The park faces threats from terrestrial invasive species, such as the giant sensitive plant or touch-me-not (Mimosa species) and the Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata), as well as the aquatic water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). These plants choke forest pathways and water bodies, impede wildlife movement, and are potentially toxic to many animals.

The park is home to an estimated 42 fish, 24 frog, 17 turtle, 35 snake, 480 bird, and 35 mammal species. Wildlife includes the world’s largest population of greater one-horned rhinoceroses. Their numbers have increased from a handful at the beginning of the 20th century to more than 2,600, as reported in 2024. This marks a 2.7 percent annual growth in the animal’s population over three decades starting in the early 1990s. Besides rhinoceroses, the park also has tigers, leopards, black panthers, bears, elephants, wild pigs, hog deer, swamp deer, water buffalo, and pelicans, storks, and other waterfowl. Aquatic species such as the endangered Ganges river dolphin and the critically endangered Assam roofed turtle are also found in Kaziranga. Additionally, the park is an important butterfly hot spot, with more than 440 recorded species.

Threats to wildlife

Kaziranga National Park is periodically inundated by the floodwaters of the Brahmaputra River system. Such events and associated landmass erosion are recurring threats to the park’s wildlife. The effects of these natural events have intensified in recent times, owing to climate change. According to one estimate, flooding killed 130 rhinoceroses between 2002 and 2017. Although poaching, particularly of the rhinoceroses, has been largely regulated in the park, economic crises driven by climate change may compel locals to illegally hunt the park’s wildlife. In addition, unplanned tourism, increasing pollution, unchecked infrastructure development, illegal encroachment, vehicular traffic, unsanctioned logging, and unregulated mining activities also pose risks to the park’s ecosystem and wildlife.