The national parks in Assam have reopened for tourists from October 1 after a gap of several months.
The parks – including the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, Manas National Park and Orang National Park – were closed for visitors due to COVID-19 pandemic situation for several months along with the normal yearly closure – due to the monsoons.
Assam forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya and agriculture minister Atul Bora on October 1 officially reopened Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve for tourists.
Senior officials of the state forest department, Kaziranga National Park and the district administration were also present at the inaugural function held at Mihimukh under Kohora range at the Kaziranga National Park.
During the programme, minister Suklabaidya said: “After a long gap we have reopened Kaziranga National Park for tourists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are facing mentally distress and we are trying to help the people to overcome from the situation by attaching them with the nature and wildlife.”
The Assam minister further said that, in view of improvement of COVID-19 situation in the state, this year the authorities decided to reopen the national parks before normal schedule.
According to the officials of the national park, initially two ranges of the park – Bagori and Kohora – will be reopened for tourists and only jeep safari has been allowed.
Apart from Kaziranga, Manas National Park and Orang National Park have also been reopened for tourists from October 1.
