Context:
On Global Tiger Day 2025, the Chief Minister of Assam released the latest tiger density rankings, where Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) emerged as India’s third-most tiger-dense reserve, after Bandipur and Corbett.
What is Tiger Density?
- Definition: Tiger density measures the number of tigers per 100 sq. km, serving as a key ecological indicator of habitat health and predator-prey balance.
Top 3 Tiger Reserves by Density (as of 2024)
| Rank | Tiger Reserve | State | Density (Tigers/100 sq. km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bandipur Tiger Reserve | Karnataka | 19.83 |
| 2 | Corbett Tiger Reserve | Uttarakhand | 19.56 |
| 3 | Kaziranga Tiger Reserve | Assam | 18.65 |
- Kaziranga’s Tiger Population (2024):
Total: 148 tigers over 1,307.49 sq. km- Up from 104 in 2022
- Includes 27 tigers from newly surveyed Biswanath Division
About Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve
- Location:
- Golaghat and Nagaon districts, Assam
Situated along the Brahmaputra River floodplains
- Golaghat and Nagaon districts, Assam
- Historical Milestones:
- Established: 1905 on recommendation of Mary Curzon
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Since 1985
- Declared Tiger Reserve: In 2006
- Ecological Features:
- Lies on the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot
- Habitat: Tall elephant grass, tropical moist forests, and marshlands
Flora
- Vegetation Types:
- Alluvial grasslands
- Savanna woodlands
- Moist deciduous forests
- Semi-evergreen forests
- Notable Trees:
- Elephant Apple, Cotton Tree, Indian Gooseberry
Fauna
- Flagship Species:
- One-horned rhinoceros: Largest population globally (2,200+)
- Tigers: Rising population, third-highest density in India
- Other wildlife: Asiatic elephants, swamp deer, Hoolock gibbons, greater adjutant, black-necked stork
