Jaldapara National Park, National park in Alipurduar, India
Jaldapara National Park is a protected area in Alipurduar, West Bengal, India, covering open grasslands, dense forests, and several waterways at the base of the Himalayan foothills. The terrain follows the Torsa River and provides habitat for large herbivores and many smaller species across the humid lowland zones.
Authorities established the area as a wildlife sanctuary in 1941 after hunting had reduced rhinoceros populations sharply. Sixty years later it gained national park status in 2012 to strengthen legal protections.
Local communities view the Torsa River flowing through the reserve as a lifeline and gather near its banks for seasonal harvest celebrations. Visitors often see groups of women in bright saris walking along the village paths near the entrance gates.
Safaris by elephant or four-wheel-drive vehicle depart from Madarihat, with the cooler winter months between November and March offering the best conditions for spotting animals. Warm clothing for early morning outings and binoculars for birds along the waterways improve the experience greatly.
Only Kaziranga holds more one-horned rhinoceroses in India than this reserve, which also shelters more than two hundred bird species. Rangers use domesticated elephants to patrol inaccessible marsh zones where rhinoceroses retreat during the monsoon rains.
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