Guwahati, 29 September (IANS) Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya on Monday highlighted the courageous and dedicated efforts of the ‘Van Durgas’ in protecting the Kajiranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) and its wildlife.
The Governor, along with the First Lady Kumud Devi, visited the World Heritage Site KNPTR on Monday, the residence of a horny rhinoceros.
Acharya appreciated the commitment of ‘Van Durgas’ to ensure the safety and stability of the park’s ecosystem.
Entering the park through the Bagori range, the governor performed a jeep safari and spent time amidst his rich biodiversity.
He reviewed the ongoing initiative for wildlife protection and environmental protection, while experienced by elephants with a close interaction, which by feeding them sugarcane.
The governor expressed that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Kaziranga in March 2024, the park has seen remarkable infrastructure progress.
These measures, he said, has promoted tourism and strengthened the global stature of Kaziranga as a world heritage site of ecological and cultural importance.
Known as ‘Van Durga’, the female frontline forest staff, India’s seventh UNESCO is responsible for the biodiversity of the World Heritage Site and the protection of wildlife.
The Prime Minister, during his visit to KNPTR in March last year, interacted with ‘Van Durga’, who is the team of forest guard, who leads the protection efforts in Kazirana, protects forests and wildlife.
PM Modi appreciated the dedication, courage and performance of the ‘Van Durga’ team in KNPTR.
Modi rode a jeep and elephant safari after spending one night at the World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park.
The park is officially reopened to tourists on 26 September, marking the beginning of the tourism season 2025–26.
KNPTR director Sonali Ghosh had said that as the tourist season begins, tourists can once again see the park’s remarkable flora and fauna, including a horny rhinoceros, tigers, elephants and diverse birds.
He said that this initiative confirms Kaziranga’s commitment to wildlife conservation, sustainable tourism and community association.
The official tourist season in KNPTR usually occurs from October to mid -May, as the famous park and tiger reserve remains closed internationally during the monsoon period, as its vast areas are flooded during June to September every year.
Meanwhile, according to officials, KNPTR saw an all-time high record number of 4,06,564 tourists including 17,693 foreign visitors in 2024–25.
Ghosh had said that in 2024-25, the total visitors of Kaziranga have increased four times in the last 10 years.
He said, “What has been remarkable is an increase in foreign tourists (17,693), which is now an impressive 4.5 percent of the total tourists. Kaziranga is experiencing a remarkable boost in tourism, thanks to the recent success of the new initiative,” he said.
The Indian Forest Service Officer said that Kaziranga has registered an increase in 21.19 percent revenue-earnings during the financial year of 2024-25 compared to the same period last year (2023-24).
The National Park, which is spread over several districts of Assam, which includes Golghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Biswanath, earned more than Rs 10.90 crore revenue in 2024-25 and is more than Rs 8.81 crore in 2023-24.
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