Wildlife Conservation Push Or Policy Contradiction? Assam’s ₹534 Crore Plan

Assam is stepping up its investment in wildlife conservation with a proposed ₹534-crore Wildlife Safari and Rescue Centre in Dibrugarh, even as the state faces scrutiny over its plan to narrow the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park.

The contrast has put Assam’s wider approach to wildlife conservation under the spotlight. While the new centre promises better rescue facilities, veterinary care, research and eco-tourism, conservation concerns remain over the proposed changes to the protective buffer around Kaziranga.

The centre, planned at Namdang Reserved Forest in Tingkhong, will be developed in two phases. The first, costing ₹259 crore, will include enclosures for tigers, rhinos, leopards and bears, besides a veterinary hospital and rescue facility. The second phase, estimated at ₹275 crore, will include enclosures for exotic species such as Asiatic lions, cheetahs, zebras and hippos, along with an advanced research centre.

The project is expected to strengthen wildlife rescue and conservation while supporting eco-tourism and creating employment opportunities. The government also plans to use technology for environmental restoration, including drone-based aerial seeding in remote, hilly and alluvial island areas to improve green cover, encourage indigenous species and prevent soil erosion.

But Assam’s conservation policy is also being tested by the Kaziranga ESZ debate. The state has proposed a site-specific ESZ of around 1–3 km, compared with the default 10-km protection that applies where no final site-specific notification has been issued.

The issue is significant because Kaziranga’s wildlife does not remain confined to park boundaries. During floods, animals move towards higher ground and use corridors connecting the park with the Karbi Anglong hills. Protecting these wider landscapes is therefore as important as strengthening facilities inside dedicated wildlife centres.