Guwahati: With the third-highest tiger density in the world, Assam is being hailed as a conservation leader.
“Not just protecting tigers; we’re reclaiming their kingdom,” Sarma said in a social media post. “With expanded reserves and bold action against encroachment, the striped creatures of Assam continue to roam with power and pride.”
The state’s flagship reserves—Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, and Nameri—are central to this success. Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary credited the rise in tiger numbers to a multi-pronged approach, including anti-poaching efforts, habitat restoration, and community involvement.
However, the growing tiger population has brought unintended consequences. Human-wildlife conflict is on the rise in fringe areas, as tigers push beyond reserve boundaries.
Recent months have seen a spate of tiger deaths. On 22 May, the mutilated carcass of an adult tiger was found in Numaligarh, Golaghat district. The animal had allegedly preyed on livestock and was linked to a fatal human attack, prompting suspected retaliation from villagers.
In March, a decomposed Royal Bengal tiger was discovered in the Biswanath Wildlife Division, and another death followed in Orang reserve itself.
As Assam expands protected habitats and cracks down on encroachment, officials face a delicate balancing act—safeguarding human settlements while preserving space for one of the world’s most iconic predators.
The tiger’s roar may be growing louder in Assam, but so too are the calls for thoughtful, long-term solutions to ensure peaceful coexistence in shared landscapes.