Reinventing Nature in Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park's conservation history reveals that cultural politics, not just Western ideals, drove the creation of wilderness. This study shows how Assamese cultural narratives about the Greater One-horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) reinforced exclusionary practices in Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS), leading to militarized protection and further wilderness reinforcement by the late 1960s. The research highlights that local cultural politics, rather than purely Western influences, were pivotal in shaping conservation approaches in the Global South. This approach subtly influenced exclusionary conservation strategies across India's national parks and tiger reserves.

Sarmah, B. (2023). Reinventing Nature in Kaziranga National Park. Conservation and Society, 21(2), 133–143. https://doi.org/10.4103/cs.cs_143_21