READING- Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve(CLASS 9 AND 10)

WORKSHEET 22 

1. All those who have thought Indian one-horned rhinoceros only existed in Jurassic-era, then a trip to Kaziranga is a must for them. One of the most sought after wildlife holiday destinations in India, Kaziranga National park’s 430 square kilometer area sprinkled with elephant-grass meadows, swampy lagoons, and dense forests is home to more than 2200 Indian one-horned rhinoceros, approximately 2/3rd of their total world population. Formed in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots – Golaghat and Nagaon district. In the year 1985, the park was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is said when Mary Curzon, the wife of the Viceroy of India – Lord Curzon of Kedleston, visited the park to see Indian one-horned rhinoceros; she wasn’t able to found even one. Then she persuaded her husband to take urgent measures to protect the dwindling species which he did by initiating planning for their protection. After a series of meetings and documentations, the Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was created with an area of 232 km2 (90 sq mi) in 1905.

2. Along with the iconic Greater one-horned rhinoceros, the park is the breeding ground of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. Over the time, the tiger population has also increased in Kaziranga, and that’s the reason why Kaziranga was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2006. Also, the park is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International for the conservation of avifaunal species. Birds like lesser white-fronted goose, ferruginous duck, Baer’s pochard duck and lesser adjutant, greater adjutant, black-necked stork, and Asian Openbill stork specially migrate from the Central Asia during the winter season.

3. Undoubtedly, the park is known for its good population of animals but more than that it is the wildlife conservation initiatives that take place in the park are more popular. With its amazing wildlife conservation activities, the park has successfully managed to grow the population of Greater one-horned rhinoceros, an endangered species. The vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests undoubtedly makes the park look beautiful but it’s the presence of Brahmaputra river, which makes it look enigmatic.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AFTER READING THE PASSAGE:

A.    When and how was Kaziranga national park converted to a Reserve forest.
B. What isth e difference between park and a reserve?
A national park is a land which is owned by the government and is protected from industrialization, human exploitation and population. A reserve park is a term given for conservation of resources, protect the species of the flora and fauna and safeguard the entire ecosystem.

Pick up the words from the passage that means -------------
1. Birds belonging to a particular habitat.( para 2)---------------avifaunal
2. a very tall long legged bird with a long heavy bill and typically with white and black plumage . (para 2)-------------- adjutant
3. A large black-and-white stork with a massive bill and a bare head and neck,(para 2)-----stork
4. Mysterious (para 3)---------------enigmatic
5. A wide continuous area of something (para 3)---------------expanse