Overview on Jaldpara National Park

The Jaldapara National Park is rich in biodiversity and ecological importance. It was previously known as the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. This national park in West Bengal is located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. It is situated on the Torsa River in the Alipurduar sub-division of Jalpaiguri, about 124 kilometres from Siliguri. Jaldapara is presently the second-largest habitat for the severely threatened great one-horned rhinoceros. 

History of Jaldapara National Park

Before 1800, the Jaldapara National Park was home to tribal groups called Toto and Mech. Therefore, the region was called Totopara. Jaldapara, in reality, is the name of a settlement and a market in the southern section of the forest.

It was designated a sanctuary in 1941 to protect its diverse flora and animals, particularly the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The earlier rhino population lived in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Due to habitat loss, the rhinos become geographically isolated. Today, they reside in the Jaldapara National Park. 

The Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary was designated as a National Park in 2014. The park is surrounded by the Gorumara National Park and the remnants of an ancient fort hidden among the Chilapata Forest. 

Geography

Jaldapara National Park is situated in the West Bengal district of Jalpaiguri. Jaldapara’s woods stretch from the Bhutan border at Totopara in the north to the Mthurabagan tea estate in the south. National Highway 317 runs across the forest’s northern edge. In the past, tourist activity was focused on the area around this roadway.

Jaldapara is located at an elevation of 61 m and has 216.51 km2 of vast grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands, with patches of riverine forests. The woodland stretches for about 50 km. However, the woodland is narrow and just 5 to 7 km wide for most of the route.

The park is located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, on the Torsa river’s bank. The other rivers that flow through the sanctuary include:

• Malangi
• Chirakhawa
• Sissamara
• Hollong
• Kalijhora 

The climate of this national park ranges from 12 to 27°C. It receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon, allowing for a variety of plants and flowers to grow. The park’s weather can touch a maximum temperature of 40°C in the summers. Thus, tourists typically visit Jaldapara in winter and the onset of the summer season.

Flora

The Jaldapara National Park is home to a diverse range of vegetation and wildlife. The area is filled with vegetation and flowers, particularly after the monsoons have passed. 

The Jaldapara National Park has shishu and khair trees. It also has tall grasses, reeds, ferns, and Setaria palmifolia, also known as palmgrass. 

Fauna

Jaldapara is well-known for its rhino population, which includes Asiatic one-horned rhinos. The grass marsh, which is great for rhinos, provides them with a natural environment for their long-term existence. 

Jaldapara also has herds of bison, hispid hares, hog deers, sambar, wild boars, and spotted deers. Additionally, the national park is home to Asian elephants.

There is a wide range of hawks, Bengali florican, Indian hornbills, jungle fowls, peafowls, partridges, and other birds in the park. Eagles such as the crested eagle and the fishing eagle may also be observed. 

Some other birds include: 

• The crested serpent eagle
• Pallas’s fishing eagle
• Large green-billed malkoha
• White-rumped vulture
• Pied harrier
• Sparrow hawk 
• Hill mynas

Reptiles include the python, kraits, and geckos, among others.

Conclusion

The Jaldapara National Park serves as a gene pool reserve for the great one-horned rhino outside of Assam and Nepal. Jaldapara is located at an elevation of 61 m. It is situated on the banks of the Torsa river in the Alipurduar District in northern West Bengal, near the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. The sanctuary is home to lush flora and a diverse range of fauna.