5.1.8 Case study - Kaziranga, India

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Content

Introduction

Kaziranga National park lies on the floodplain of the Brahmaputra River in the state of Assam in northeast India. The climate is sub-tropical (tropical, according to some definitions), and the landscape consists of a mosaic of alluvial seasonally-inundated grasslands, alluvial savannah woodlands, moist mixed deciduous forests and semi-evergreen forests. The climate is dominated by the Asian Monsoon, which lasts from June to September and when most of the rain occurs. Total annual rainfall is about 2220 mm. During July and August, about 75% of the park is submerged under floodwaters

The original forest in the area would have semi-evergreen. The canopy would have consisted of Syzygium spp., Cinnamomum spp. and Magnoliaceae (all evergreen), with the deciduous component comprising Terminalia myriocarpa, Terminalia citrina, Terminalia tomentosa and Tetrameles spp. All the vegetation in the area has been heavily modified by humans. The forests on higher ground represent an important refuge for wildlife during the flood period, and some species move into the surrounding hills.

The area is rich in wildlife and is particularly known for its population of Indian Rhinoceros (2400 out of a world population of 3500), as well as for Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant and Wild Water Buffalo. The park authorities are known for their uncompromising approach towards poachers, which has declined markedly since the 1980s and 1990s.

Outcomes

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

  • Describe a highly seasonal environment determined by the Asian Monsoon
  • Explain how seasonally flooded grasslands and forests interact
  • Assess how the biodiversity responds to the seasonal changes in the environment

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