Guwahati, June 6: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) in Assam has been identified as a crucial habitat for various bird species, according to the latest bird survey. The survey recorded 217 raptors from 30 species and 266 storks from six species. This finding highlights Kaziranga’s rich avian biodiversity and its global significance in wildlife conservation.
Released on World Environment Day, the survey report was conducted by the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve administration in collaboration with researchers from various universities in Assam during February and March 2026.
Sonali Ghosh, the director of KNPTR, stated that the survey identified 217 raptors and 266 storks. The comprehensive survey was carried out by a team of 10 expert enumerators across all wildlife divisions of Kaziranga from the last week of February to the first week of March.
The park is home to numerous raptor species that are active both day and night, including eagles, falcons, vultures, buzzards, and owls. Additionally, the extensive wetland areas provide safe habitats for both local and migratory storks.
According to the report, India has a total of 112 raptor species, with nearly 50 found in and around Kaziranga. Globally, there are 20 stork species, eight of which are found in India, all of which have been recorded in the Assam and Kaziranga region.
The survey found the highest number of raptor species—21—within Kaziranga National Park, followed by 20 raptor species and six stork species in the Biswanath Wildlife Division, and 14 raptor species and five stork species in the Nagaon Wildlife Division.
Among the storks, the Asian Openbill was the most numerous, with 92 individuals recorded, while the Greater Adjutant was the rarest, with only three sightings. For raptors, the Himalayan Griffon Vulture was observed 69 times, whereas the Booted Eagle and White-tailed Eagle were recorded only once each.
The report also emphasizes Kaziranga’s vital role in the conservation of the globally endangered Pallas’s Fish Eagle. A male Pallas’s Fish Eagle, tagged by the Wildlife Science and Conservation Center in Mongolia, has returned to Kaziranga annually for breeding since 2020 and migrates back to Mongolia during the non-breeding season.
A survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2020 recorded 10 active nests of the Pallas’s Fish Eagle in Kaziranga, making it one of the most significant breeding sites for this species worldwide.
Sonali Ghosh remarked that the findings of this survey will play a crucial role in the conservation of endangered raptors and storks. Most of these species receive the highest legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
She added that this survey reinforces the need to preserve Kaziranga’s unique ecosystem, as raptors and storks play a vital role in maintaining natural balance.
Notably, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga National Park, is also home to India’s famous “Big Five” wildlife. Currently, it houses 2,613 one-horned rhinos, 104 Bengal tigers, 1,228 Asian elephants, 2,565 wild buffaloes, and 1,129 eastern swamp deer. This sanctuary spans the districts of Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Biswanath in Assam.
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