The tiger population at Assam’s Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve has increased three-fold in the last 10 years for which the park has bagged the first-ever international award for conservation excellence.From 10, the big cat count at the park has increased to 30 in ten years which includes 26 adults and 4 cubs. The primary reason that has been attributed for this achievement is smart patrolling, which includes Android-based monitoring software M-STeIPES.

MAIN HIGHLIGHTS:-

=> The population of rhinos, which was zero in 2001-2 during “extremist” movement in Bodoland, has now increased to 44.

=> This commendable performance has been a possible due to adoption of smart patrolling like that of M-STeIPES and regular vehicle and boat patrolling. As a result of this, there has been no incidence of rhino poaching inside the park since 2016.

=> This honour bestowed upon the tiger reserve has recognized years of hard work and conservation efforts of the Manas Tiger Project.

=> Manas provides habitat to 22 of India’s most threatened species of mammals. This includes 1034 elephants, 12 clouded leopards, five black panthers, 400 golden langurs, 502 wild buffalos and 706 Indian bisons. Recently, the park has also translocated two wild buffaloes to Chhattisgarh and also started a pygmy hog reintroduction programme.