Guwahati: Wildlife enthusiasts planning a jeep safari through Assam’s renowned Kaziranga National Park will need to adjust their itineraries as authorities have announced an indefinite suspension of the popular activity starting May 19.
The decision comes as the region braces for the arrival of the monsoon season, which typically brings persistent heavy rainfall and deteriorates road conditions within the park.
Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, the largest of its kind in Northeast India, draws significant numbers of both domestic and international visitors each year, primarily for its iconic one-horned rhinoceros. The sprawling sanctuary is a crucial habitat for this magnificent species and a diverse array of other wildlife.
The Chief Minister’s Office conveyed the official directive via a post on X, sharing the order issued by the Forest department. The communication explicitly cited “persistent bad weather and poor road conditions” as the reasons behind the cessation of jeep safari operations, emphasizing that the closure would remain in effect “until further notice.”
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since its declaration as a National Park in 1974, Kaziranga is not only vital for the conservation of the world’s largest one-horned rhino population but also shelters a rich biodiversity. Tigers, elephants, panthers, bears, and an impressive variety of avian species call this park home. Strategically located along the Brahmaputra river’s edge in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, with the Karbi Anglong hills forming its southern boundary, Kaziranga’s unique geographical setting contributes to its ecological significance.
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