All national parks in India that were closed for the summer and monsoon season are not set to reopen. While most of the closed parks are slated to reopen in October, Kaziranga reopened its gates a bit early this year. Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeva of Isha Foundation formally reopened the park on September 24, 2022. This opening was a special one as three statues of rhinoceros were unveiled during the park’s opening ceremony.
At the opening of the park, Assam took one more step towards sustainability and being eco-conscious by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the sustainable use of land and agricultural practices. The potential of ecotourism was also discussed.
Last year, on World Rhino Day (September 22, 2022), Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with Assam Police, burned 2479 one-horned rhino horns that were seized from traffickers. It was done in order to show the world that rhino horns did not possess any medicinal value, and trafficking of these horns is a baseless affair. The horns were burned with complete rituals and state honour.
The three rhino statues are made using the ashes from burning the seized rhino horns. These three rhino statues are in the Mihimukh area of Kaziranga National Park. "The rhino statues thus created is an attempt to immortalise the efforts and dedication of those who selflessly protect Assam's pride, the great one horned-rhinoceros," said CM Sarma.
Kaziranga National Park is one of the most important wildlife parks in India. The national park is an important centre for conservation for one-horned rhinoceros, critically endangered Bengal florican, Bengal tiger, Indian wild elephant, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.
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