Tiger numbers quadruple in Assam's Nameri Reserve, rise from 3 to 12 in three years

Guwahati, July 5: Assam’s Nameri Tiger Reserve has recorded a fourfold increase in its tiger population, with the number of big cats rising from just three in 2022 to 12 by 2025, marking a significant conservation milestone for the state.

The increase has been hailed by the Assam government as evidence of successful conservation efforts in the reserve, which spans 344 sq km in Sonitpur district and shares a contiguous forest landscape with Pakke Tiger Reserve. Nameri is one of Assam’s four tiger reserves, alongside Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Manas Tiger Reserve and Orang National Park.

Assam Forest and Environment Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah described the development as a “remarkable conservation success” and credited the state’s wildlife protection measures under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

“From just three tigers in 2022 to 12 by the end of 2025, Nameri Tiger Reserve has scripted a remarkable conservation success, validated by the Wildlife Institute of India.

Adding to this achievement, the return of two tigers to Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, the satellite core of Nameri Tiger Reserve, after decades of absence marks another historic milestone for wildlife conservation in Assam,” the minister posted on X.

The rebound at Nameri reflects a broader recovery of the state’s tiger population over the past two decades. Official estimates show Assam’s tiger numbers have more than tripled—from 70 in 2006 to 227 in 2022. The population rose steadily through successive assessments, increasing to 143 in 2010, 167 in 2014 and 190 in 2018.

The state’s largest tiger stronghold remains Kaziranga, which recorded 148 adult tigers in 2024, up from 104 in 2022, reinforcing Assam’s position as one of India’s leading tiger conservation landscapes.

Wildlife and tourism stakeholders said the increase in tiger numbers at Nameri is expected to strengthen the reserve’s appeal as an eco-tourism destination. “This is good news for all of us. Nameri has always been known for its tigers, and the increase in the Royal Bengal Tiger population will further boost Assam’s tourism in the coming years,” a local tourist guide said.

The latest figures are also expected to reinforce conservation efforts in the Nameri-Pakke landscape, one of the most important tiger habitats in the eastern Himalayas.

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