No Rhino, Tiger Poaching in Manas National Park for 3 Years: Himanta
Manas National Park provides shelter to a high population of endangered and rare species, including the Red Panda, Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog, Assam Roofed Turtle and Hispid Hare
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve for achieving a remarkable milestone, as the UNESCO World Heritage Site has recorded zero rhino and tiger poaching for three consecutive years.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X, "Zero rhino and tiger poaching in Manas National Park for 3 straight years! From an era where poaching dominated news headlines to now, when zero poaching is the new normal — this feat signifies the relentless efforts Assam has undertaken to preserve our faunal diversity."
Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said that under the constant guidance and direction of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Manas National Park has recorded zero rhino and tiger poaching for the last three years.
"As we celebrate this extraordinary achievement, I believe these visuals will tell you the story behind this achievement. The long patrols, the vigilance in the field and continuous engagement with local communities are the hard work that has strengthened wildlife protection in Manas," the Assam Forest Minister wrote on X.
He further said, "I am delighted by the work done by our Forest Department officials and frontline staff who have devoted themselves to this mission with sincerity and courage."
Assam is home to 80 per cent of the global population of greater one-horned rhinos.
According to government data, the rhino population in Assam has surged by approximately 170 per cent since the 1980s, growing from 1,500 to over 4,000.
Manas National Park, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, is known for its rich biodiversity. It was declared a national park in 1990 and earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1988.
It is the first tiger reserve in Assam and the fifth in India under the 1973 Project Tiger initiative.
Manas National Park provides shelter to a high population of endangered and rare species, including the Red Panda, Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog, Assam Roofed Turtle and Hispid Hare.
Other wildlife found in the park includes the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Clouded Leopard, Gangetic Dolphin and rare langur species.
A total of 450 bird species have been officially recorded in the park, including 16 species that are widespread across the region.
