Why in news?
Kaziranga Tiger Reserve in Assam was reported to have the third‑highest tiger density in India in 2024, following Bandipur in Karnataka and Corbett in Uttarakhand. The news was shared by the Chief Minister of Assam on Global Tiger Day.
What is tiger density?
Tiger density refers to the number of tigers per 100 square kilometres. It provides insight into the health of predator populations and the effectiveness of conservation practices. High densities suggest abundant prey and well‑managed habitats.
Key findings
- Top three reserves: Bandipur recorded about 19.83 tigers per 100 sq km, Corbett had 19.56 and Kaziranga followed closely with 18.65.
- Kaziranga’s numbers: The reserve’s tiger count rose to 148 individuals over 1,307.49 sq km, up from 104 in 2022. The increase includes 27 tigers from the newly surveyed Biswanath division.
About Kaziranga National Park
The park spans the floodplains of the Brahmaputra in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts. Established as a reserve forest in 1905 at the behest of Mary Curzon, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and a Tiger Reserve in 2006. Sitting at the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, Kaziranga hosts varied habitats such as tall elephant grass, marshes and mixed forests.
- Flora: The park is home to alluvial grasslands, savanna woodlands, moist deciduous and semi‑evergreen forests. Notable trees include the elephant apple, cotton tree and Indian gooseberry.
- Fauna: Kaziranga supports the world’s largest population of one‑horned rhinoceroses (over 2,200), as well as tigers, Asian elephants, swamp deer, Hoolock gibbons and rare birds like the greater adjutant and black‑necked stork.
The tiger density report highlights the success of conservation efforts in Assam. Continued vigilance, anti‑poaching measures and habitat connectivity are essential to sustain this progress.