On 14th September 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a new wildlife corridor that links Kaziranga National Park in Assam with adjoining protected areas. The ceremony, held at the park’s entrance, marked the completion of a long‑term plan to allow free movement of wildlife across fragmented landscapes. This development is a landmark for conservation in India and offers a fresh opportunity for species that once roamed freely across a vast contiguous habitat.
A wildlife corridor is a strip of natural habitat that connects two or more larger reserves, allowing animals to move, breed and forage safely. By reducing isolation, corridors help maintain genetic diversity and lower the risk of local extinctions. In places like Assam, where human settlements, roads and plantations have divided forests, corridors become vital pathways for animals such as the Indian rhinoceros, elephants, tigers and many bird species.
The new corridor stretches roughly 30 kilometers, linking Kaziranga with the adjoining Manas National Park and the Baghora Wildlife Sanctuary. It follows the natural meandering of the Brahmaputra floodplain and incorporates a series of “wildlife bridges” over busy roads and irrigation canals. Engineers used satellite imagery and on‑ground surveys to map the most suitable routes, ensuring minimal disruption to local communities and existing infrastructure.
Key features include:
Over the last decade, the Indian rhinoceros population in Kaziranga grew from about 4,500 to over 5,000 individuals. While the park’s internal management remains strong, the surrounding landscape has become increasingly fragmented. The corridor addresses this fragmentation by giving rhinos, elephants and other species a safer route to forage in adjacent areas, especially during the dry season when water and food become scarce.
“The corridor is a step forward in our commitment to protecting the natural heritage of Assam,” said Prime Minister Modi. “By connecting ecosystems, we are ensuring that wildlife can thrive for generations to come.”
Many villagers who live along the corridor’s path have seen the project as a chance to improve their livelihoods. The construction phase created jobs for over 200 workers, many of whom were local residents. The corridor’s design also included “buffer zones” where small farmers can grow crops that are tolerant to wildlife presence, reducing potential conflicts.
In the town of Bihpuria, a farmer named Ramesh Sharma shared his experience: “During the construction, we were offered training on wildlife-friendly farming practices. Now, our fields produce less damage from elephants, and we earn extra income from selling wild fruits to visitors.”
Conservationists are keen to gauge how effectively the corridor will work. The project team will track a sample of rhinos and elephants with GPS collars, recording their daily routes and habitat use. This data will help managers adjust fencing, signage and feeding stations over time.
Beyond the immediate wildlife benefits, the corridor also supports ecological processes such as seed dispersal and pollination. By allowing smaller mammals and birds to travel across a wider area, the corridor encourages a richer plant community that, in turn, supports more diverse fauna.
Even with a well‑planned corridor, challenges remain. Road traffic along the corridor’s edges can still pose a risk, especially for younger animals learning to navigate. Ongoing education campaigns will be needed to remind drivers of speed limits and wildlife crossing signs.
Additionally, climate change is altering rainfall patterns, which could affect the availability of waterholes along the route. Regular maintenance of these water points and the surrounding vegetation will be essential to keep the corridor functional.
India has several large protected areas that are already linked by corridors, such as the Western Ghats and the Terai region. The Kaziranga corridor adds a crucial piece to this network, creating a more connected landscape that can withstand the pressures of rapid development.
For policymakers, the corridor demonstrates that large‑scale conservation projects can be integrated with local development plans. It also showcases the potential of public–private partnerships, as several NGOs and local businesses contributed resources and expertise during construction.
In the years that follow, scientists will monitor how wildlife uses the corridor and whether it reduces incidents of wildlife crossing roads. The data gathered here will feed into future corridor designs across the country, helping to refine guidelines for safe and effective wildlife movement.
For visitors to Kaziranga, the new corridor will mean a richer experience. As animals traverse the landscape, tourists will have the chance to observe species in a more natural context, strengthening the park’s reputation as a world‑class wildlife destination.
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