Kaziranga National Park reopens with tribute to British-era officer Patrick D. Stracey
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s safest address for the one-horned rhinoceros, reopened to tourists on Sunday, October 16, 2023, with a literary tribute to Patrick D. Stracey, a British-era forest officer who played a key role in its conservation.
On the occasion of the park’s reopening, a library named after Stracey was inaugurated at the Centenary Convention Centre in the Kohora area of Kaziranga. The library offers readers books and magazines on the world of nature, as well as merchandise to take memories of Kaziranga home.
“The PD Stracey Library is a tribute to a legendary forest officer,” said Kaziranga’s field director Sonali Ghosh. “He was a visionary who dedicated his life to the protection of Kaziranga and its wildlife.”
Stracey was born in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada in 1891 and served as an Indian Forest Service officer in Assam. He was appointed the Divisional Forest Officer of Kaziranga in 1949. At the time, Kaziranga was known as a game sanctuary, which meant that hunting was allowed. However, Stracey campaigned to have Kaziranga declared a wildlife sanctuary, which would prohibit hunting. His efforts were successful, and Kaziranga was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1950.
Stracey also played a key role in establishing the Assam Forest School, a training institute catering to the northeastern region. He was also a prolific writer, and authored books such as Elephant Gold, Nagaland Nightmare, and The Authoritative Tigers.
The reopening of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is a welcome event for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts alike. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros, the Royal Bengal tiger, the Asiatic elephant, and the water buffalo. Visitors can enjoy jeep safaris, elephant safaris, and boat safaris to see the park’s wildlife up close.
The park authorities have also introduced a number of new initiatives this year, including a 7.6-km cycling route and a couple of outlets showcasing the produce of self-help groups of women living in the forest fringes. These initiatives are aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and empowering local communities.
