Wildlife experts and conservationists have urged the Assam government to establish a premier wildlife research institute for the entire Northeast, citing the region’s exceptional biodiversity and lack of dedicated scientific infrastructure.

Need for Scientific Wildlife Research in Northeast

• The Northeastern region of India is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot, home to rare flora, fauna, and many species yet to be scientifically documented. 
  •  Assam—being a part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity, one of the biodiversity hotspots in India.
• Assam is located in the transitional zone between the Indian, Indo-Malayan, and Indo-Chinese biogeographical regions, making it a “biological gateway” for North East India.
• Despite this richness, the region lacks a full-fledged wildlife research institution, resulting in limited scientific studies and continued dependence on research facilities outside the Northeast.

Key Arguments Made by Experts

• Boost to Biodiversity Research: Asom Gaurav awardee Dharani Dhar Boro highlights the need for systematic research on wildlife evolution, DNA studies, and anatomical and behavioural patterns of endemic species.
• Preventing Brain Drain: A local institute will allow students, researchers, and PhD scholars from the Northeast to pursue specialised wildlife studies without migrating outside the region.
• Support in Conflict Mitigation: The institute can contribute to scientific strategies for resolving human–elephant conflict, monkey conflicts, and habitat fragmentation issues, particularly acute in Assam.
• Strengthening Conservation & Crime Investigation: WWF-India’s Amit Sharma stresses that a centre located near major wildlife zones—especially Kaziranga National Park—would support advanced research on poaching patterns, wildlife crime mapping, and ecological monitoring.
• Community Engagement: Experts believe that such a centre would encourage local involvement in conservation, strengthening grassroots-level wildlife stewardship.
• Biodiversity Richness: The Northeast hosts 216 species of Small Indigenous Freshwater Fish, numerous endemic mammals, and critical transboundary landscapes.
  

Experts, thus argued that Assam offers the ideal location for a specialised research hub similar to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Government Response

A proposal has reportedly been submitted, and the state government has shown initial interest. However, experts believe more political commitment and institutional planning are required to realise such an important scientific facility.

Exam Hook – Prelims Question 

Q. The proposal to establish a premier Wildlife Research Institute in Assam aims primarily to:
a) Promote tourism in Kaziranga
b) Strengthen scientific research on Northeast biodiversity
c) Develop forest products for export
d) Monitor river systems of the Northeast
Answer: b

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