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Relevance: GS-III Conservation & Biodiversity; GS-I Geography (Flora & Fauna) Source: Assam Forest Dept / WII, July 2026

From Three to Twelve: The Comeback of Nameri’s Tigers

1 · What exactly happened?

There is great news from Assam’s Nameri Tiger Reserve (NTR). In 2022, they counted only 3 tigers. By the end of 2025, that number had grown to 12—a fourfold increase in just three years! These numbers were officially verified by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Even better, two tigers were spotted returning to the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (a core part of Nameri) after being completely absent for over 20 years. Seeing a locally extinct animal return to its old home is very rare and shows that nature can heal if given a chance.

2 · Why did the numbers go up?

The secret: Connected Forests (Corridors). Animals don’t understand state borders. Nameri shares a continuous forest border with the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. Because these forests are connected, tigers from Pakke were able to safely travel and settle in the empty habitats of Sonai-Rupai. This is called ‘landscape-level conservation’.
The Reserve
A forest of rivers and foothills
Nameri sits at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, fed by rivers like Jia-Bhoroli. The main Nameri National Park acts as the heart, while Sonai-Rupai acts as an extension.
The Recovery
A massive turnaround
Nameri naturally has a low density of tigers. So, jumping from 3 to 12 is a huge deal—it shows the forest is healthy enough to support a growing family.
The Method
Hard work on the ground
The forest department actively removed illegal settlements, grew more grass for deer (tiger food), built waterholes, and set up camps to stop poachers.
The Danger
The fight isn’t over
Threats like illegal tree cutting, poaching, and human-elephant conflicts still exist. If the forest corridors are broken, the tiger population will drop again.
  • Core vs. Buffer: A tiger reserve has two parts: the ‘Core’ (strictly for animals, no humans) and the ‘Buffer’ (where humans and wildlife safely coexist). Tigers often use buffer zones to travel and find new territory.
  • Comparing with Kaziranga: Kaziranga is Assam’s superstar. Its tiger count grew from 104 to 148 recently. It is packed with tigers, unlike Nameri, which is much quieter but slowly recovering.
  • Not just tigers: Nameri is also famous for being a breeding ground for the White-winged Wood Duck (Assam’s state bird) and the Golden Mahseer, a rare river fish.
  • Who counts the tigers? The NTCA manages ‘Project Tiger’ and conducts the national tiger census every 4 years. The WII provides the science, using camera traps to identify individual tigers.
UPSC Prelims Quick Facts
Nameri TR A tiger reserve in Assam (Sonitpur district). Declared as Assam’s second tiger reserve in 2000.
Sonai-Rupai WLS A key part of the Nameri reserve where tigers were recently spotted after a 20-year gap.
Pakke TR A tiger reserve in Arunachal Pradesh that shares a physical border (corridor) with Nameri.
NTCA National Tiger Conservation Authority. A legal body that runs ‘Project Tiger’ in India.
Project Tiger A huge government program started in 1973 to save Bengal tigers from extinction.
AITE All India Tiger Estimation. The national census that counts tigers every 4 years.
WII Wildlife Institute of India. The top scientific body advising the government on wildlife.
White-winged Wood Duck An endangered bird and the state bird of Assam.
MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to tiger conservation in India, consider the following statements:

  1. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  2. The All India Tiger Estimation is conducted once every four years.
  3. The White-winged Wood Duck, found in Nameri, is the state animal of Assam.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: The NTCA is a legal body formed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • Statement 2 — Correct: The national tiger census happens every four years.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect: Beware the trap! The White-winged Wood Duck is the state bird of Assam, not the state animal. The state animal is the famous one-horned rhinoceros.
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