Two new species identified in Kaziranga National Park

Category
Ecology and Environment
Published
28th Mar, 2024

Context

Researchers unveiled two previously unknown species (Binturong and Small-clawed otter) within the dense forests of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

About

Binturong (Arctictis binturong):
- The binturong, also known as the bearcat, is a mammal indigenous to South and Southeast Asia.
- This elusive creature, known for its nocturnal behaviour and preference for arboreal habitats, is rarely encountered.
- It is particularly scarce within its range, with its distribution in India limited to the Northeast.
- Classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN due to dwindling numbers, the binturong faces significant threats to its survival.
Small-clawed otter (Aonyxcinereus):
- The small-clawed otter, recognised as the smallest otter species globally, boasts a widespread distribution that stretches from India across South and Southeast Asia to southern China.
- This unique otter species is adapted to a variety of aquatic habitats, including rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands, where they forage for fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey.
- The species is included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Fact Box: Kaziranga National Park

Location: Spread over Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam Kaziranga National Park lies at the edge of eastern Himalayas.
Origin: The park owes its existence to the conservation efforts of Mary Curzon and her husband Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India.
It became a reserve forest in 1904 primarily to protect the declining population of Rhinos.
Assam National Park Act was passed by the Assam Government in 1968, declaring Kaziranga a designated national park with an area of 430 sq km.
Central Government recognized it as a national park in 1974.
Kaziranga National Park got the status of a tiger reserve in 2006
Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Kaziranga National Park in Assam is home to the threatened one-horned Rhino.
Other important species: Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo and Eastern Swamp Deer, leopards, Royal Bengal Tigers, two of the largest snakes in the world (the Reticulated Python and Rock Python), King Cobra (the longest venomous snake in the world)