In the deep floodplains of Assam and across the deciduous forests of Central India, a silent resurgence is underway. Once pushed to the brink of extinction, India’s national animal, the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), is making a powerful comeback. And while much of the spotlight falls on states like Madhya Pradesh or Karnataka, the northeastern state of Assam is emerging as a critical player in the subcontinent’s conservation success story.

India’s Tiger Census: A Global Beacon

India’s big cat revival is unmatched anywhere else in the world. According to the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation, the tiger population has grown to 3,682 individuals, marking a 24% increase from the previous census in 2018. This upward trend is especially significant when viewed against the backdrop of just 1,411 tigers in 2006, a figure that once sparked national alarm.

The success is credited to over five decades of Project Tiger, robust policy interventions, technological surveillance, and increasing public awareness. But behind the numbers lie a series of nuanced regional stories, and Assam’s tale is one of resilience, ecological uniqueness, and local engagement.

Assam: A Tiger State in the Making

Nestled in the Eastern Himalayan foothills, Assam’s diverse ecosystems, ranging from riverine grasslands to tropical forests, make it an ideal tiger habitat. The state currently houses three tiger reserves, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Manas Tiger Reserveand Nameri Tiger Reserve.

Each of these reserves plays a distinct role in supporting India’s northeastern tiger metapopulation, contributing to ecological connectivity with Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.

Kaziranga: Where Tigers Share the Grasslands

Known worldwide for its rhinos, Kaziranga National Park is now equally celebrated for its tigers. A 2021 camera-trap-based survey by the Assam Forest Department, in collaboration with NTCA and Aaranyak, revealed 121 individual tigers, making Kaziranga one of India’s most densely populated tiger habitats - with an estimated density of 4.36 tigers per 100 sq km.

What makes Kaziranga unique is its wetland-grassland ecosystem, where tigers coexist with elephants, wild buffaloes, and swamp deer. But the very landscape that nourishes such biodiversity is also prone to annual floods, often forcing tigers to move into fringe villages, leading to human-wildlife conflict. Despite this, Kaziranga's conservation model, marked by rapid response teams, elevated platforms, and wildlife corridors, has drawn global attention.

Manas: From Devastation to Hope

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Manas National Park was a story of decline. Political unrest in the Bodoland Territorial Region led to rampant poaching, habitat degradation, and near-total collapse of wildlife populations, including the extinction of the eastern swamp deer in the area.

Yet, two decades later, Manas is a story of revival. The tiger count here has risen from 10 in 2010 to 48 in 2021, as per joint surveys by the forest department and WWF-India. Conservation efforts in Manas have benefited immensely from community participation under Joint Forest Management Committees and transboundary cooperation with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park.

Today, the park is not just recovering its tiger population but also reintroducing lost species, such as the greater one-horned rhino and swamp deer, setting a precedent for holistic conservation.

Nameri: The Silent Corridor

Located in the Sonitpur district, Nameri Tiger Reserve is more of a passage than a destination for tigers. Bordering Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Tiger Reserve, Nameri functions as a biological corridor, allowing tigers to move across protected landscapes.

While the tiger population here remains low and elusive, the reserve’s importance cannot be overstated. Recent conservation strategies focus on anti-poaching intelligence, community sensitization, and reforestation along riverine tracts. The challenges in Nameri - especially illegal logging and river pollution - reflect the complex interface of ecology and livelihoods in frontier zones.

Beyond the Roar

Despite these gains, Assam’s tiger landscape is far from secure. Key issues include - Annual monsoon floods, particularly in Kaziranga, displace tigers and prey species, increasing conflict with humans, Encroachment in buffer zones and wildlife corridors disrupt tiger movement and gene flow, Poaching networks, though weakened, still operate in fringe areas, targeting both big cats and their prey and Lack of coordination in transboundary wildlife monitoring with Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh.

Additionally, climate change poses new threats - with rising river levels, changing vegetation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events potentially impacting tiger habitats.

The Assam Approach: What Sets It Apart

What distinguishes Assam’s tiger conservation efforts is the blend of grassroots involvement and scientific management. The use of camera traps, GPS telemetry, drone surveillance, and heat-mapping has significantly improved monitoring. But equally critical is the local ownership fostered through eco-tourism, forest protection committees, and school-level awareness programs.

Moreover, Assam’s forest officials have demonstrated adaptive leadership, responding to floods with pre-positioned veterinary teams, wildlife rescue units, and temporary rehabilitation enclosures for displaced animals.

A Future Worth Protecting

Assam may not yet rival Madhya Pradesh or Karnataka in sheer tiger numbers, but its strategic geographic position, high biodiversity, and resilience in the face of ecological and political upheaval make it a cornerstone of India’s tiger conservation narrative.

In a world where most countries are losing their apex predators, India, and Assam in particular, is scripting a rare story of revival. As India celebrates 50 years of Project Tiger, the message is clear: the roar has returned, but sustaining it will require continued vigilance, innovation, and inclusive stewardship.


Please note: Pictures courtesy - Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve