Guwahati

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said conservation measures undertaken by the state government have led to a revival of the endangered Asiatic wild dog, or dhole, population in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape.

Sharing the development on social media platform X, Sarma said the species, once commonly found in the region’s forests, had gradually disappeared over time before signs of its return began emerging in recent years.

Describing the dhole as a quiet yet highly effective predator, the chief minister said the government’s efforts to protect and expand forest cover, improve habitat connectivity and clear encroached forest land were helping restore ecological balance in the region.

According to Sarma, the revival has been documented through wildlife monitoring efforts. While only a single dhole was captured in a camera trap image in 2022, officials have now reported direct sightings and confirmed the presence of an entire pack in 2026.

Calling it a “powerful story of revival”, the chief minister said the return of an apex predator reflects the strengthening of the broader ecosystem and highlights the success of sustained conservation initiatives.

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Dholes, also known as Asiatic wild dogs, are native to forests across South and Southeast Asia. The species is currently listed as “Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to a declining global population.