GUWAHATI, Oct 1: Kaziranga National Park, home of the one-horned rhino, opened for tourists this season on Tuesday, after being closed during monsoons.
State Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary declared the park open for the 2024-25 season at a function at the western range, Bagori, exuding confidence that it will be able to draw more tourists this year.
“We already have adequate infrastructure in Kaziranga and several more attractions, like additional boats for tourists. We are hopeful that more tourists will visit this year, improving upon the last season’s record of over 3.27 lakh visitors,” he said.
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Patowary emphasised on help and cooperation of all stakeholders, including park officials, locals and media, in attracting more tourists and ensuring that they have a pleasant stay.
“The visit of dignitaries such as the president and the prime minister of our country, Bhutan’s king and others also helped in bringing more tourists,” he said.
The minister also stressed visit by tourists from different countries helps in spreading the fame of Kaziranga, besides bringing in more revenue.
State ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta and local Kaziranga MP Kamakhya Prasad Tassa were among those present at the opening ceremony.
Jeep safari has been opened for tourists now, with elephant safari to be allowed later.
Among other attractions in the park are hiking, trekking, birding and cycle trials.
The Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, remains closed from around May every year with the onset of monsoons.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd presented an animal rescue vehicle to support the park’s efforts in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, an official release said.
A book titled ‘A Practitioners Guide to Photographic Monitoring of Asian Elephants for Science and Conservation’, authored by Dr Varun Goswami, Dr Divya Vasudev and Parvathi K Prasad, was launched, providing insights into the park’s rich biodiversity and conservation journey.
A unique wildlife-themed eco shop with over 50 products and souvenir items was also inaugurated at the Bagori Range campus.
The sale and proceeds from this unique shop will support the forest staff welfare society and the eco-development committee around Kaziranga.
A medicinal plants sale counter was also launched at Memorial Park, Kohora, under the Golaghat Social Forestry Division, contributing to a more inclusive identity for forest eco-tourism, the release added. (PTI)
