Guwahati, Dec 2: The Assam government has unveiled ambitious plans to enhance wildlife conservation and eco-tourism by establishing two new open zoos in Dibrugarh and Silchar, with respective investments of ₹259 crore and ₹214 crore.
Complementing these efforts, an Institute of Wildlife and Health for Wild Animals will be established in Chabua to support research and conservation initiatives.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also launched a modernization project for the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati, allocating ₹362.04 crore to transform the 67-year-old facility into a cutting-edge hub for biodiversity preservation. Established in 1957, this is the Northeast’s sole zoological and botanical institution and a cornerstone in conserving the region’s unique biodiversity.
The modernization will include state-of-the-art amenities to improve the visitor experience while upgrading the animals’ living conditions. Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister reminisced about his childhood visits to the zoo and reaffirmed his commitment to its revitalization.
Highlighting Assam’s conservation successes, Sarma noted that poaching has drastically reduced due to the vigilance of the Special Task Force of Assam Police, which focuses on protecting elephants and tigers. The state has also reclaimed 74,115 bighas of encroached forest land, boosting wildlife populations and deterring further poaching.
A recent report on Elephant Population Estimation in Assam, released during the event, revealed a population of 5,828 elephants—a testament to the state’s effective conservation policies.
Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Health Minister Ashok Singhal, and Special Chief Secretary (Forest) MK Yadava attended the event.
Read: Bangladesh’s textile collapse driving infiltration into Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
WATCH:
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
