Regional Analysis

Kaziranga National Park

Beside the great one horned Indian Rhino, the other major wild attractions include a large population of Indian Elephants, Indian Bison, Swamp Deer or Barasingha, Hog Deer, Sloth Bears, Tigers, Leopard Cats, Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons, Wild Boar, Jackal, Wild Buffalo, Pythons, Monitor Lizards, etc.

Kaziranga's visiting season is from mid-November to early April months. During the monsoons, the Brahmaputra River bursts its banks, flooding the low-lying grasslands and causing animals to migrate from one area to another within the Kaziranga National Park.

The park is divided into three ranges, the Central Range at Khora, the Eastern Range at Agoratoli and the western Range at Baguri. In the neighbourhood of the park are the Karbi Anglong hill ranges and the tea gardens.  

The threats to the National Park are:

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  Poaching of Wild Animals- recently also poaching of One horned Rhinoceros was caught
  
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  Annual floods- entire park is closed during this rainy/ flood season for 6 months. High flooding also results in changing animal movement pattern from low lying to higher grounds to Karbi Anglong hills/ higher forest grounds. However in these movements are also threats of vehicle speeding over or poaching.
  
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  Heavy traffic on the National High way no. 37
  
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  Absence of a Buffer Zone for the National Park
  
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  Siltation and weeds, illegal fishing, Erosion leading to land changes, breach in embankments on eastern boundary, livestock grazing etc
  

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  There are concerns regarding the present form of tourism. Elephant safari is one of the main attractions for which tourists come. Tourists are taken for safari to the grasslands where one gets to see the one horned rhino. This activity should not be further too much promoted by allowing more elephants. Retaining visitor experience further is a big challenge here.
  
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  Also, in most of the other reserves, tourists are taken for jeep safari to the grasslands and not to thick jungles. This also retaining visitor experience will be difficult.
  
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  Some jeeps are seen in poor condition, with polluting in nature and with heavy sound, which is not a welcome sign when animals are there. Strict monitoring is required here.
  
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  A major factor is the seasonality of the tourism here. Since Kaziranga is open only for 6 months, the seasonality cannot be completely changed, however need to be minimised with options. Another aspect is lack of evening or other activities to engage tourists once they finish the safaris.
  
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  Also, there are concerns on strong land deals here. There has to be a Kaziranga Management Authority who should monitor all land developments.
  

Infrastructure Planning:

Of the various threats, since the National Highway is a development issue, it is proposed to address the same on a top priority. There have been several discussions on the road adjoining the National Park. The road has a serious threat to the conservation of park as well as wildlife. Since in the management proposals for park, a Buffer Zone is proposed and since the Highway is so close to the National Park, it is proposed that the road be deviated at this region, and alternate alignment worked at.

Central Parking area development near the entry point to the Park.

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  It is proposed that urgently, the Forest Department needs to address creation of a Buffer Zone. At present it is the core zone of the National Park and then the Highway/ Public space.
  
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  Sensitisation of Tourists & Environmental Awareness: A 5-minute awareness audio visual training will be conducted compulsory to all the visitors to the various ranges of the Kaziranga National Park at the entry point where tickets/ permissions are taken. The objectives of this training will be two fold. One will be to create awareness about the wildlife, biodiversity and the spatial spread of NP. The second objective is to make the tourists aware of their responsibilities towards protection of the area and waste restrictions.
  
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  Sensitisation of Other Stakeholders: It is also important to sensitise Govt Stakeholders (like Tourism, forest depts-by sending them abroad to African parks to see how they are managed), other Stakeholders like Vehicle owners, Resort Owners every month during the season through audio visual means.
  
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  Generate awareness among the local villagers: Highlight the ecological and economic benefits of conservation of rare and endangered species and other ecologically and economically important plant resources and animal population
  
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  Importance will also be given to create awareness among the local settlement, which falls in the transition/buffer zone to reduce conflict with animals especially in the nights.
  
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  Patrolling Augmentation:
  

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  Strict watch and ward involving local youths in the patrolling duties in non-core zones
  
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  The “Friends of Kaziranga NP” programme can keep a computerised database of all those who visit Kaziranga NP after a compulsory Nature Interpretation Program. Later on a regular basis it can update them on newer happenings in the NP newer species of flora and fauna if sighted, favourable climate, pictures of beautiful landscape, conservation issues, contributors to conservation, facts on monthly & total visitors, visitors who were recognised as “eco-tourists” due to their contribution every year on web.
  
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  Self-Help Tourism Scheme can be initiated by the villagers and gram panchayat where in the unemployed youths provide services such as guide sell handicraft and earn living. These groups can be organized at the village level by the Panchayats and local NGO’s.
  
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  Nature awareness camps and programs for school children: Nature camps would be organized for school children.
  
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  Research and Monitoring including ICT techniques, scientific studies, Baseline surveys, resource inventory and modern census works, listing and mapping, Satellite based studies etc
  
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  Based on monitoring, individuals who take initiatives on their own for environmental protection and conservation in general as well as for saving threatened flora / fauna should be recognised and rewarded through some special prize/incentives, etc. Also, those if found flouting the eco-rules whether tourists or local individuals should be penalised by imposing a fine for a tourist or revoking the registration license of the concerned local vehicle/ establishment/ individual.
  

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  Promote regional cooperation and support sub regional initiatives in the tourism sector
  
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  Encourage enhanced collaboration between various agencies including government and non government organization so that collective efforts can be organized. Web sites with links like “Friends for Kaziranga, Development Issues” etc can be created so that people can be associated.
  
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  Foster and support micro, small and medium-sized tourism-related enterprises
  
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  Encourage the use of local resources and services in tourism-related operations
  
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  Promote local arts and crafts as well as local entertainment to increase the income levels of host communities and enhance the preservation of local culture
  
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  In order to attract private sector participation, Governments should address such issues as creating a conducive business environment, liberalizing rules and regulations, providing investment incentives, developing an adequate legislative framework and strengthening government capacity to negotiate with the private sector.
  

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  Tourist Reception Cluster at Kaziranga- which would house:
  

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  Tourist Information Counter with availability of brochures and pamphlets on NP and nearby regions. There is a information cell, however this needs to be developed as a full fledged Reception cell cum information centre, which would be functioning from early morning till evening. At present many a tourists are left to the jeep operators and hoteliers, however the tourism department in co-ordination with Forest department should guide the tourists on the various entries- what to expect etc.
  
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  Information on the biodiversity of the areas should be available at this people. There has to be a compulsory 10 minute video presentation which all tourists have to go through, so that they are sensitized of the importance of the National Park and cause minimum impact to the ecology.
  
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  Souvenir shop: Nature & ethnicity based souvenir items. Souvenir items like local handicraft items, postcards, T-Shirts, Caps etc would be available here.
  
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  Ethnic Restaurant which serves ethnic cuisines and local fish items.
  
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  Waiting area with seating for 10 persons
  
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  2 toilets each for men and women.
  
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  Purified Drinking water Provision
  
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  Waste Bins
  

The costs for the proposed development for the Kaziranga National Park area development and the proposed phase of development are as follows:

4. 
   Costs and Phasing: Kaziranga National Park Area Development