The history of Kaziranga is one of the world's greatest conservation success storeys. Its journey began in the early 20th century. Legend has it that in 1904, Mary Curzon, the wife of the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, visited the area to see the famed one-horned rhinoceros. Disappointed by failing to spot a single rhino, she persuaded her husband to take urgent measures to protect the dwindling species. In 1905, Kaziranga was designated as a Proposed Reserve Forest, encompassing a modest 232 square kilometers.
Over the decades, the area's protected status was steadily elevated. It was declared a Forest Reserve in 1908, a game sanctuary in 1916, and eventually upgraded to a full National Park in 1968 (an act officially passed in 1974). Before and during these administrative changes, the area was primarily inhabited by indigenous groups, including the Mishing and Karbi communities, who lived off the river and forests.
In 1985, recognising its unique natural environment, UNESCO declared Kaziranga a World Heritage Site. More recently, in 2006, it was declared a Tiger Reserve due to its exceptionally high density of Bengal tigers. Today, the modern history of the region is characterized by ongoing battles against poaching, the challenges of climate-induced extreme flooding, and the development of sustainable eco-tourism that seeks to benefit both the wildlife and the local Assamese communities.
