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Summary:
A new study analyzing soil samples from Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India, has revealed the park’s ecological evolution over the past 3,000+ years. The study, published in the journal Catena, shows a transition from dense forests to open grasslands, driven by climatic shifts and the migration of large herbivores, including the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The analysis of pollen grains and fungal spores in the soil allowed scientists to reconstruct the changing vegetation, animal populations, and climate conditions. Notably, the findings suggest that rhinos migrated to Kaziranga from other parts of the subcontinent due to climate change and human pressures. The research underscores the importance of Kaziranga as a critical habitat for the endangered rhino and highlights the impact of both natural and potentially human-influenced ecological shifts on the region.
News Article:
Kaziranga’s Transformation: Soil Study Reveals 3,000-Year Ecological History
Guwahati, January 1, 2026 – A groundbreaking study of swamp soil in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park has unveiled a detailed ecological history spanning more than 3,000 years, shedding light on the park’s evolution into a prime habitat for the iconic Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
The research, published in the esteemed journal Catena, provides insights into the shifting vegetation patterns, climate changes, and the movement of large herbivores in the region. Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Newcastle University, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Botanical Survey of India, and the University of Lucknow collaborated on the study.
By analyzing pollen grains and fungal spores extracted from a 110-centimeter soil core, researchers were able to reconstruct Kaziranga’s changing environment. The study revealed that Kaziranga was once a dense, tropical forest. “Kaziranga looked very different 3,290-1,700 years before present,” explains Dr. Sadhan K. Basumatary, one of the study’s authors. “The park during that phase of warm and humid climatic conditions had a tropical dense mixed forest… with less grasslands.”
Around 1,700 years ago, the landscape began to change, with forests gradually giving way to grasslands, a shift associated with drier conditions. An increase in dung-related fungal spores indicated a growing population of large herbivores.
A particularly notable finding is the potential migration of rhinos to Kaziranga from the northern and western parts of the Indian subcontinent. Researchers hypothesize that climate change and growing human pressure forced these animals to seek refuge in the northeastern region.
“We found a sharp rise in fungal spores during this period, suggesting an increase in the numbers of megaherbivores such as rhinos, elephants, buffaloes and deer,” said Dr. Tripathi.
The study also noted the early appearance of Mimosa, an invasive plant species, hinting at early ecological disturbance in the region.
As climate change continues to impact ecosystems worldwide, this research provides crucial context for understanding the long-term ecological dynamics of Kaziranga and highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect this vital habitat for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. Kaziranga is home to more than 70% of the world’s total population of some 3,700 greater one-horned rhinoceros, making it the most critical habitat for the species.
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