Assam wildlife conservation and tourism development

The Assam government is undertaking significant wildlife and conservation infrastructure projects across the state. In Dibrugarh, a plan was announced to establish a wildlife safari and rescue centre in the Namdang Reserved Forest at an estimated cost of Rs 534 crore. This two-phase project aims to house native species like tigers and rhinoceroses in its first phase, followed by exotic species such as cheetahs and zebras in the second phase.

Simultaneously, redevelopment efforts are underway at the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden in Guwahati. Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah has inspected the site, which is being transformed into a “world-class wildlife destination.” Key planned upgrades for the Guwahati facility include a large-scale bird aviary and a new toy train service to improve visitor accessibility.

As of October 2026, major wildlife destinations have begun reopening for the 2026–27 tourism season following the monsoon. Manas National Park reopened on October 2, followed by Kaziranga National Park on October 3, with Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary scheduled to open on October 13. At Kaziranga, jeep safaris have commenced, while elephant safaris are expected to resume within 10 to 20 days. Officials noted a significant rise in tourism, with Kaziranga recording over 30,000 foreign visitors during the previous season.

During the inauguration of Wildlife Week 2026 at the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden, Minister Mallabaruah reviewed the progress of the Rs 340-crore redevelopment project, which is intended to feature one of the world’s largest aviaries.