The Prime Minister highlighted Assam’s wildlife conservation efforts during the 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat on September 27, 2026. He particularly referred to the recovery of wildlife habitat at Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary and the conservation of the pygmy hog.

About Sonai Rupai

• The Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the foothills of Himalaya in the Sonitpur district with an area of 220 sq. kms.
• The sanctuary is one of the prominent ones among the eighteen wildlife sanctuaries in Assam.
• It is part of the wider landscape associated with Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve.
• The sanctuary is famous for Indian bison, elephants and one-horned rhinoceros which are the main attractions of the region.
•  It also houses tiger, barking deer, hog deer, leopard, wild boar, squirrel, wild pig, gaur, fox, pygmy hog, swamp deer etc.
• Pelican, white slender-billed vulture, white-winged wood duck and rufous-necked hornbill are often seen in the sanctuary.

According to the Prime Minister, areas of the sanctuary that had been under encroachment were cleared about three years ago. Following habitat restoration, elephants have returned to areas where they had earlier become less visible. This demonstrates an important conservation principle: protecting wildlife requires not only preventing poaching but also protecting and restoring habitats.

Exam Hook

Assam’s experience shows that wildlife recovery requires a combination of habitat restoration, scientific conservation, legal protection and cooperation among forest officials, researchers and local communities.

One-line wrap: From elephants returning to restored forests to pygmy hogs recovering from near extinction, Assam demonstrates how sustained conservation can rebuild wildlife populations and ecosystems.