Guwahati, February 25 (NationPress) In the most recent water bird survey at Assam's Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), a remarkable total of 105,540 migratory birds from 107 species were documented, according to officials on Wednesday.

KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh reported that the 7th Kaziranga Waterbird Count revealed 1,05,540 water and wetland-dependent birds across 107 species.

The synchronized survey, which took place from January 4 to 11, 2026, spanned 166 wetlands within 10 ranges under the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Biswanath Wildlife Division, and Nagaon Wildlife Division.

The survey recorded various species, including ducks, geese, waders, herons, egrets, marsh birds, and other wetland-dependent species, with the Bar-headed Goose, Northern Pintail, and Lesser Whistling Duck being the most prevalent.

According to Ghosh, the report emphasized key conservation needs, identifying one critically endangered species, one endangered species, two vulnerable species, and 14 near-threatened species as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The water bird count initiative began in 2018-19 under the management of the park.

For the past three years, the government-owned Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) has provided support through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program to facilitate this citizen science initiative, which has involved numerous ornithologists, college students, and wildlife photographers.

Assam’s Minister for Forests, Environment, and Climate Change, Chandra Mohan Patowary, expressed excitement about the 7th Kaziranga Waterbird Count, highlighting the first-ever sighting of Smew, which added to the impressive tally of 105,540 birds. This momentous debut reinforces the significance of Assam’s wetlands as crucial biodiversity hotspots.

Senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) official Ghosh pointed out that over the years, the waterbird count in Kaziranga has transformed into a vital management tool for wetland conservation in one of India’s key tiger reserves.

She noted that large perennial wetlands showed high bird congregations, while seasonal wetlands contributed to enhanced species diversity, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive river and beel conservation in light of changing hydrological patterns.

The survey underscored Kaziranga’s vital role along the Central Asian Flyway, serving as an essential habitat for migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia, in addition to resident species, Ghosh remarked.

As India’s seventh UNESCO World Heritage Site and the fourth recognized for its natural values, the KNPTR in central Assam boasts a conservation legacy exceeding 119 years.

With its unique combination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, it is regarded as one of the most exceptional protected areas globally.

The Tiger Reserve is home to the “Big Five” mammals and is a preferred destination for birdwatchers, given its extraordinary avian diversity of over 500 bird species. Recent estimates indicate that the park houses 2,613 greater one-horned rhinoceroses (2022 census), 104 Bengal tigers (2022), 1,228 Asian elephants (2024), 2,565 wild water buffaloes (2022), and 1,129 eastern swamp deer (2022).

Spanning the districts of Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Biswanath, the park generated revenue surpassing Rs 10.90 crore in 2024-25 and more than Rs 8.81 crore in 2023–24. The KNPTR encompasses three forest divisions—Eastern Assam Wildlife Division (Bokakhat), Biswanath Wildlife Division (Biswanath Chariali), and Nagaon Wildlife Division (Nagaon).