Assam: Green marathon celebrates Kaziranga conservation

About 200 young, enthusiastic nature and wildlife lovers on Tuesday ran 22 kilometers along the National Highway 37 that strikes along the Southern boundary of famous Kaziranga National Park taking part in the first Kaziranga Green marathon organised on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Aaranyak, a society for conservation in Northeast India, took the initiative in organising the marathon in collaboration with Bokakhat District Master Athletic Association, Assam Forest Department and Bokakhat Civil Administration along with other partners to take pride in the Park's biodiversity besides taking a pledge to protect the same in this United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Site.

There are approximately 35 species of mammals, 500 species of avifauna, 60 species of reptiles, 24 species of amphibians, 42 species of fishes and 491 species of butterflies in the park.

About 440 species of plants have also been recorded from Kaziranga landscape. Kaziranga is the most celebrated abode of one-horned rhinoceros on the planet and a thriving tiger reserve.

The marathon flagged off by Assam's Minister for Environment and Forest Rakibul Hussain in front of the office of the Director of the KNP at Bokakhat. The participants ran 22 kilometers along the highway to Kohora, the main entrance to the wildlife protection area, for about 90 minutes.

A public march was taken out for one kilometer in Bokakhat township near the national park at the dawn just before flagging off the marathon.

Kaziranga's conservation success story dates back to 1904. The uniqueness and richness of the Park is phenomenal. The rivers, streams and other water bodies inside the park are ideal habitat for the fresh water fishes, reptiles and other aquatic forms of life.

The lush green grassland supports a large number of herbivores that in turn supports a thriving tiger population.