Conservation management of Kaziranga National Park

In spite of heavy conservation methods taken there are some obvious loopholes in the process of conservation of wildlife and ecology of the park. Poaching of Rhinoceros for its horn has been a serious problem at Kaziranga. Between 1980 and 2005 the park lost around 567 rhinoceros to poachers which is about 23 per year. Most of the poaching cases of rhinoceros were recorded in between 1980 and 1997, which at present is in a declining trend.[8] After a decreasing trend for past few years, 30 one-horned rhinoceroses were killed by poachers since 2007, with a report establishing links for funding the Islamic militant groups in Bangladesh connected to Al Qaida, which have initiated a probe by CBI.[9][10][11]

About 184 villages and 4 tea gardens are situated within the influence area of the park; as a result of the acute poverty present among its residents, the villagers often enter the park for illegal fishing and for firewood. Threat from overgrazing by the domestic livestock is ever present. An acute fodder shortage in the dry season forces the livestock to enter into the park for grazing, severely affecting the amount of food available for the wild herbivorous animals. Such infiltration of domestic cattle increases the risk of spread of diseases among the wild animals as most of the cattle are not properly immunized. There is also a risk of losing genetic distinctness among the wild buffaloes due to entry of domestic buffaloes.[8] Indiscriminate use of pesticides in the tea gardens close to the park boundaries also pose a threat through pesticide run-off. The tea gardens are also considered to be a source of invasive species like Mimosa and wild rose.[12]

The Karbi Anglong Plateau situated to the south of park is an important area of high ground. Largescale habitat changes in the plateau include conversion to tea gardens, settlement, logging and jhum (shifting agriculture). These developments have led to the increase of the gap between the park and the plateau, destroying the suitable habitat is of the wild animals.[12]

This destruction of the continuous area has serious implications for the ability of Kaziranga Park, and for Assam as a whole, to maintain healthy populations of animal species. For example, the 2000 census recorded 86 tigers in the Kaziranga National Park, which is a growing and healthy population, but the long-term survival of the species in the region is also dependent on maintaining links to other healthy populations, through biological corridors and careful use of buffer zones. However these serious policies are not addressed in the management plan.[13] A recent global study identified the Kaziranga-Meghalaya region as one of the priority tiger conservation habitats in the Indian subcontinent, albeit one where more information is required on tiger populations and status in the landscape as a whole.[14] As land use changes increase around the park there are risks that the resident population of tigers and other animal species become genetically isolated and in time no longer viable.[12]

Severe floods every year cause great loss to the natural habitat, death of wild animals and destruction of protection structures present in the park.[3] Flooding causes many animals to migrate outside the park where they are susceptible to hunting and reprisal for crop damage.[1] Absence of adequate high grounds within the park as places of refuge for the animals during high floods adds to mismanagement on the part of the park authorities. The period just after the receding of the flood water appears to be a hard time for the herbivores as the areas around the beels are surrounded by rotting grasses and plant remains.[8] Brahmaputra River erodes large area along the northern boundary of Kaziranga, which reduces the total geographical area of the Park and thereby reduces the habitat for the wild animal.[3] According to satellite data 51 square kilometres (20 sq mi) area was lost to floods in between 1967–68 and 1998–99, although silt deposition also leads to new land forming in other areas.[13]

Continuous siltation and growth of invasive species like Eichornia, Mikenia and Mimosa in the existing water bodies and on the land have posed a big problem on the existence of the wet lands of the Park. Since the wetlands of the Park is an integral part for continuous survival of the many important fauna such as Rhinos, Wild Buffalo, exotic bird species etc. the Park authority is facing tremendous management problem for containing siltation and weed invasion.[3]

Frequent sonic booms caused by the aircraft of the Indian Air Force flying over the park are a potential source of external disturbance to the wild animals in the park.[8]

The 54 km length of the National Highway (NH) 37 runs almost parallel to the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park between Bokakhat and Ghorakati. During the monsoon the area inside the park gets flooded and the wild animals cross this highway to move towards the elevated Karbi Anglong hills. In this process many animals are killed by fast and heavy vehicular traffic moving on it almost round the clock.[7] In spite of construction of several corridors and other steps including construction of road signage, terrain easements, rumble strips, road awareness campaigns, intensive night patrolling and regulation of vehicular traffic to mitigate the number of death of wildlife does not seems to be foolproof and effective. There is a lack of necessary and functional corridors for safe passage of animals.[7][8] There are also plans to convert the existing NH-37 to a six lane expressway.[7] If this expressway is constructed then it may cause a permanent barrier effect and also increase wild animal mortality.[15]

A petroleum refinery was established recently in 2001 at Numaligarh upstream from the park on the Dhansiri river has potential danger present of pollution of the park's land and water bodies from the effluents/wastes from the refinery.[8][12] Similarly a number of tea gardens present close to the park also remain a source of disturbance and pollution of the land and water bodies in the park.[8] Increasing tourist in the park also proves to be a source of disturbance to the wild animals.[8]

There is a lack of trained staffs in the park and as of 2005, 127 of the 592 sanctioned posts lay vacant Moreover, since the area of the park has almost doubled (through additions) the staff strength would need to be further increased to undertake anti-poaching measures, conservation of wildlife and other allied activities.[8] The park also faces shortage of funds for developmental works.

In spite of having a number of roads inside the park there is a need of construction of new roads. The southern boundary road along the river Mora Diphlu as well as in other areas of the park identified by the park authorities as priority especially in Eastern and Burapahar ranges needs construction for facilitating a year-round patrolling to check poaching of rhino and entry of men and cattle into the park.[8]

A number of observation watch towers are required in new areas like first and sixth addition as well as in the Reserve Forests under the park's administration. The present park boundary runs along non-natural features like a river etc., needs improved demarcation through conspicuous and well maintained boundary pillars in place of the current inconspicuous ones to prevent encroachment of land and to present illegal entry of people.[8] Encroachments along the park's southern and eastern boundary need immediate attention.[8]