A CORRESPONDENTBOKAKHAT: The global population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros has now reached 4,075, with about 80 per cent of the population found i

A CORRESPONDENTBOKAKHAT: The global population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros has now reached 4,075, with about 80 per cent of the population found i

In Kaziranga, a national park in north-eastern India, rangers shoot people to protect rhinos. The park’s aggressive policing is, of course, controversial, but the results are clear: despite rising dem...

Discover where to go on a wildlife safari in India, from Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh to Kaziranga, Kabini and Periyar, with tips for planning your safari.

Guwahati, Sep 5 (PTI) Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday alleged that the state government was resorting to unconstitutional means like imposing the National Security Act (NSA) to silence public dissent, citing the detention of indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley under the stringent law. Indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley was arrested under the NSA, a day after a court granted him bail in a case related to protests against a proposed five-star hotel near Assam’s Kaziranga National Park last month. Demanding unconditional release of Doley at a citizens’ protest meeting over the issue at Bokakhat in Golaghat district, the MP claimed his detention was a conspiracy by the government to deprive the people of their rights and undermine the uniqueness of Kaziranga for the sake of corporates. Addressing the meeting, Gogoi criticised the government and alleged that it is resorting to unconstitutional measures like the NSA to stifle dissenting public voices. The Congress leader asserted that detaining Doley was part of a conspiracy to strip indigenous people of their rights and undermine the uniqueness of Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to allow big corporates to take forward their business interests in the area. The Jorhat MP demanded Doley’s...

A group of citizens in Bokakhat town of Assam’s Golaghat district on Saturday (September 5, 2026) demanded the release of land rights activist Pranab Doley, who was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for opposing the government’s alleged move to evict indigenous farmers near Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and hand over their land for a luxury hotel and other projects. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Assam government slapped the NSA on the 40-year-old Mr. Doley on July 30, more than a fortnight after arresting him. The protesters said the local authorities locked the auditorium of a tribal rest house where their meeting was scheduled after administrative clearance had been granted and rent paid, forcing them to shift to an adjacent site. This triggered resentment in the area. State Congress leaders, participating in the protest, backed the demand for Mr. Doley’s release. Criticising the State government’s “autocratic tendencies”, Congress leader and former MLA Debabrata Saikia said the ruling dispensation was undermining the Constitution of India and using the police and administrative machinery to intimidate the public. “Standing up for the rights of the working class and defending one’s ancestral land can never be construed as treason,” he said,...

Assam’s Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), India’s first dedicated facility to hand-raise, treat and release orphaned and injured animals back into the wild, has stepped into its 25th year. The Assam Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) jointly run the CWRC in partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Located at Panbari near Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, the CWRC was established on August 28, 2002, for science-based wildlife conservation. Over the years, the centre and its allied mobile veterinary service units have treated and released about 68% of more than 10,000 rescued animals back into the wild. C. Ramesh, Kaziranga’s Field Director, said the CWRC’s contribution to the rescue, rehabilitation and conservation of Assam’s wildlife, especially animals in distress, has been invaluable. “The centre has not only saved countless wild animals but has also deepened our understanding and strengthened our capacity to manage human-wildlife interactions across the state,” he said. Rathin Barman, WTI’s Joint Director, said the CWRC represents a journey of compassion, science and partnership. “From responding to wildlife emergencies to giving thousands of wild animals a second chance to return to the wild, CWRC has shown what is possible when conservation...

New statement from the Community Network Against Protected Areas.