The tiger population in Nameri Tiger Reserve has increased from 3 in 2022 to 12 by the end of 2025, according to estimates validated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

More About the News

• The latest tiger estimation marks a major conservation success for Nameri Tiger Reserve in Assam. 
• The increase has been attributed to sustained habitat protection, scientific monitoring and strengthened anti-poaching measures. 
• The development also coincides with the return of tigers to Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary after more than two decades, indicating ecological recovery in the Nameri landscape.

Key Highlights

• Nameri Tiger Reserve recorded an increase in tiger numbers from 3 (All India Tiger Estimation 2022) to 12 by the end of 2025.
• The estimates have been validated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
• Two tigers have also returned to Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, the satellite core of the reserve, after decades of local extinction.
• The increase reflects the success of scientific monitoring, habitat restoration and wildlife protection measures.

About Nameri Tiger Reserve

Location 

• Nameri Tiger Reserve is located in the northern part of the Sonitpur district, Assam, at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
• It was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 2000 and is the Second Tiger Reserve in Assam after Manas National Park.
  • At present Assam has four tiger reserves- Manas, Orang, Nameri & Kaziranga (MONK).
• It has been carved out of the Naduar Reserve Forest, Balipara Reserve Forest and the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It operates under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and is managed by the Assam Forest Department.
• It is recognised as a National Park, Tiger Reserve, Elephant Reserve, and an Important Bird Area (IBA).
• It is contiguous with Pakke Tiger Reserve (Arunachal Pradesh  in the North, forming an important transboundary wildlife landscape.
• It is bound by rivers, viz. Jia-Bhoreli in the west and Bor-Dikorai in the east.
• The reserve is one of the important conservation areas on the north bank of the River Brahmaputra.

Composition

• Nameri National Park (200 sq km) forms the core area.
• Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (about 120 sq km) serves as the satellite core.
• Naduar Reserve Forest (80 sq km) forms the eastern buffer.
• Balipara Reserve Forest (64 sq km) forms the western buffer.

Biodiversity

• It is a famous breeding refuge for the endangered White-winged Wood Duck.
• It hosts 7 wild cat species i.e Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Golden Cat, Marbled Cat, Leopard Cat, and Jungle Cat.
• Other important fauna include the Dhole (Wild Dog), Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Gaur, and Sambar.
• The Jia-Bhoroli River supports rich riverine biodiversity.

Ecological Significance

• It forms part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot.
• The habitat of Nameri is made up of tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests with cane brakes and narrow strips of open grassland along rivers. 
• Grasslands comprise less than 10% of the total area of the park while the semi-evergreen and moist deciduous species dominate the area.
• The reserve acts as an important wildlife corridor between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, enabling the movement of tigers and elephants.

Administration

• The Western Assam Wildlife Division manages the core and satellite core.
• The Divisional Forest Officer serves as the Field Director of the Tiger Reserve.

Eco-tourism

• River rafting on the Jia-Bhoroli River is the major attraction.
• The reserve is also popular for bird watching, wildlife tourism, and nature trails.

History of Nameri 

• Nameri was declared as a Reserve Forest in 1978
• Nameri Forest Reserve was declared as the Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985
• Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as the Nameri National Park in 1998
• In 1998 it was declared as a National Park 
• Nameri National Park was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 2000.

Exam Hook – Prelims

With reference to Nameri Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements:

1. It is located in Assam and shares a boundary with Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.
2. It operates under the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
3. Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary forms part of the Nameri Tiger Reserve landscape.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

One-Line Wrap

The remarkable rise in the tiger population of Nameri Tiger Reserve highlights the success of scientific conservation, habitat restoration and landscape-based wildlife management in Assam.