6 months ago
2
GUWAHATI
Simultaneous surveys person revealed that the 1,307.49 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve houses astir 40% of the 274 taxon of amphibians and reptiles, and much than 18% of the 422 taxon of freshwater food recorded crossed the northeast.
The surveys were conducted betwixt July and September by a squad of Kaziranga officials successful collaboration with scientists and researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India.
According to the surveys, the Kaziranga scenery supports 108 taxon of amphibians and reptiles, accounting for 39.41% of astatine slightest 274 herpetofauna taxon known from India’s northeastern region, comprising 8 States.
Numerous wetlands of the tiger reserve besides enactment 77 taxon of freshwater fish, which is much than 35% of Assam’s ichthyofauna, comprising 216 species.
“The richness of autochthonal taxon of food and herpetofauna indicates that Kaziranga provides a pristine situation to chaotic fauna. The diverseness of amphibians and reptiles, successful turn, serves arsenic cardinal indicators of the ecosystem wellness that play captious roles successful maintaining ecological balance,” an authoritative connection read.
Assam’s Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary released the survey reports connected November 2.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the surveys “reflect the sustained conservation efforts of our authorities and the dedicated enactment of the Forest Department’s officers and frontline staff, who proceed to safeguard this invaluable ecosystem.”
Report highlights
The ichthyofauna survey reveals that Kaziranga’s fishes beryllium to 18 families, with Cyprinidae and Danionidae emerging arsenic the astir ascendant families. The survey reaffirms the presumption of the tiger reserve arsenic a cardinal refuge for freshwater biodiversity successful the Brahmaputra basin.
The study besides documents taxon of conservation interest specified as Wallago attu, Cirrhinus cirrhosus, and Botia rostrata (vulnerable); Parambassis lala, Ompok pabda, and Chitala chitala (near threatened); and Clarias magur (endangered).
The study underscores the ecological value of food successful sustaining nutrient cycles, nutrient webs, and situation connectivity, portion supporting taxon specified arsenic otters, sportfishing cats, and waterbirds. It besides highlights threats from clime change, siltation, hydrological changes, and unregulated fishing, calling for semipermanent monitoring and stronger conservation measures.
The herpetofauna recorded during the survey beryllium to 19 genera and 14 families. The taxon see threatened taxon specified arsenic king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), Assam roofed turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis), and the Asian brownish tortoise (Manouria emys). The others see Chiromantis assamensis (vulnerable), Nilssonia nigricans (critically endangered), Varanus flavescens (endangered), and the data-deficient Cyrtodactylus kazirangaensis, recovered lone successful Kaziranga.
