Kaziranga National Park faces ecological threats from land-use changes

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned that Kaziranga National Park faces significant ecological threats due to land-use changes and external pressures. A primary concern is the Assam government's plan to reduce the park's eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) by several kilometers, a move conservationists argue could permit damaging industrial activities and unregulated tourism near the park boundaries.

Simultaneously, a Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee has criticized the state government for failing to stop mining activities in the nearby Karbi Anglong hills. The committee noted that mining continues under various pretexts despite judicial orders intended to protect wildlife and the natural drainage system.

The committee also highlighted delays in identifying stream catchment areas and the failure to notify critical animal corridors connecting the park to the Karbi Anglong hills, which serve as vital flood-time shelters for wildlife.