Kaziranga Tiger Reserve Records Third Highest Tiger Density
Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Assam has emerged as the tiger reserve with the third-highest tiger density in India. This was revealed in a 2024 report released on Global Tiger Day. Known primarily for its one-horned rhinoceros, Kaziranga now also stands out as a critical tiger habitat. The reserve recorded 148 tigers across 1,307.49 sq. km, reflecting growth since 2022.
Tiger Population Growth and Survey Methodology
The tiger count rose from 104 in 2022 to 148 in 2024. This increase was aided by the first-ever sampling of the Biswanath Wildlife Division, which alone recorded 27 tigers. The survey was conducted between December 2023 and April 2024 using camera traps. Officials employed the spatially explicit capture-recapture method, a precise technique endorsed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India. Over 13,000 trap nights yielded more than 4,000 tiger images, enabling identification of individual tigers by their right-flank stripe patterns.
Comparative Tiger Density in India
Kaziranga’s tiger density stands at 18.65 tigers per 100 sq. km. This ranks behind Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve (19.83 tigers per 100 sq. km) and Uttarakhand’s Corbett National Park (19.56 tigers per 100 sq. km). These figures show Kaziranga’s importance in India’s tiger conservation landscape and its rising role in protecting this apex predator.
Habitat Expansion and Protection Measures
Key drivers of tiger population growth include habitat expansion and improved protection. Recently, Kaziranga expanded by 200 sq. km through the inclusion of Burhachapori-Laokhowa sanctuaries in the Nagaon Wildlife Division. This expansion added 12.82 sq. km of encroachment-free land. It enhanced landscape connectivity, allowing tigers to move, breed and disperse more freely across divisions. Assam’s efforts to curb infiltration and encroachment have also contributed to a safer environment for tigers.
Geographical and Ecological Features of Kaziranga
Kaziranga lies in the Brahmaputra River floodplain, spanning Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur districts. The terrain is mostly flat with gentle slopes. The reserve’s core tiger habitat is nourished by tributaries of the Brahmaputra, such as the Diffalu and Moradifalu rivers. Kaziranga connects to neighbouring reserves through river island corridors, facilitating wildlife movement.
Flora and Fauna Diversity
The reserve supports several vegetation types, including alluvial grasslands, savanna woodlands, moist mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forests. Notable flora includes Bombax ceiba, Albizzia species and Lagerstroemia parviflora. Kaziranga hosts many endangered species such as the one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, eastern swamp deer, elephant, buffalo, hoolock gibbon, capped langur and Gangetic river dolphin. This biodiversity underlines Kaziranga’s status as a vital conservation hotspot.
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