Kaziranga National Park’s first-ever Grassland Bird Survey (2025) recorded 43 grassland-dependent bird species, including the endangered Finn’s Weaver and critically endangered Bengal Florican. The findings highlight the park's rich avian diversity and emphasize the need for conserving Assam’s floodplain grasslands.
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Assam Forest Department and WII have begun genetic analysis of 2,573 rhino horn samples stored before their 2021 destruction.
For the first time, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (Assam) conducted a comprehensive Grassland Bird Survey between 18 March and 25 May 2025 across Eastern Assam, Biswanath, and Nagaon divisions.
It documented a record 43 grassland-dependent bird species, including 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable species per IUCN criteria.
A major highlight was the discovery of a breeding colony of the Endangered Finn’s Weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus), locally known as Tukura Chorai, within the Kohora Range.
This species, a colonial nest‑builder, is regarded as an ecological indicator of healthy floodplain grasslands.
The survey prioritized ten globally threatened or Brahmaputra-endemic grassland species:
Researchers used both point‑count surveys and passive acoustic monitoring—a non-invasive method that recorded bird vocalizations continuously, enabling better detection of elusive and cryptic species.
Kaziranga’s floodplain grasslands now rank among India’s most species-rich habitats for grassland birds. The findings reinforce the park’s role within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and stress the need for long-term adaptive management of fragile grassland ecosystems facing threats like land‑use changes and invasive species.
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Aspect |
Details |
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Location |
Assam, between the Brahmaputra River and the Karbi (Mikir) Hills |
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Rivers |
Brahmaputra River, Diphlu River |
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Transport |
National Highway 37 passes through the park |
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Eco-Zone |
Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot; Brahmaputra Valley floodplain |
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Legal Status |
- National Park: 1974 - Tiger Reserve: 2006 |
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International Recognition |
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1985- Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International |
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Conservation Achievements |
- 2/3rd of the world’s Great Indian One-Horned Rhinos - High tiger density - Conservation of Bengal Florican & Western Hoolock Gibbon |
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Big Five Fauna |
One-Horned Rhino, Asian Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer |
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Other Mammals |
Panther, Sambar, Hog Deer, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Capped Langur, Hoolock Gibbon |
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Aquatic Fauna |
Gangetic River Dolphin in oxbow lakes |
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Bird Species |
- Migratory birds from Central Asia in winter - Notable: Baer’s Pochard, Lesser White-Fronted Goose, Greater Adjutant, Black-Necked Stork |
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Vegetation |
- 2/3rd Wet Alluvial Grasslands - Tropical Moist Deciduous & Semi-Evergreen Forests - Dense, tall Elephant Grass with swamplands |
Source: The Hindu
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Which of the following statements regarding Kaziranga National Park is/are correct?
Select the correct answer using the code below: (a) 2 only (b) 1 and 4 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: C Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: Kaziranga is located between the Brahmaputra River and the Karbi (Mikir) Hills, not Aravalli Hills. Statement 2 is correct: It is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and designated as an Important Bird Area. Statement 3 is correct: It is among the last homes of the Western Hoolock Gibbon, the only ape species in India. Statement 4 is incorrect: The park has significant wetland and swamp ecosystems, including oxbow lakes. |
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