Tinsukia: In a significant breakthrough for wildlife conservation in Assam, the first photographic evidence of a Bengal tiger has been recorded in Dibru Saikhowa National Park, marking a historic moment since the park’s inception. Officials confirmed that the tiger was captured on camera traps twice—on December 14, 2025, and January 1, 2026—after an extensive monitoring effort involving around 60 cameras. According to Bibison Tokbi, Divisional Forest Officer of the Tinsukia Wildlife Division, both images were of the same tiger. Recent pug marks of another tiger have also been found, indicating the possible presence of more big cats in the area.
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Though Dibru Saikhowa had reported tiger presence in the 1990s, there had been no confirmed documentation until now despite multiple attempts. The biosphere reserve, spread across 765 sq km and declared in 1997, includes a 340 sq km core national park notified in 1999. Camera traps have also recorded other wildlife species such as leopards, wild buffaloes, and porcupines, highlighting the park’s rich biodiversity.
Environmentalists believe the reappearance of tigers is a positive sign, though concerns remain over past habitat loss, flooding, and alleged poaching. The park, located in a flood-prone zone surrounded by major rivers, has seen ecological changes over decades. Forest officials have termed the development encouraging and stressed the need for strengthened conservation efforts to ensure the long-term survival of tigers in the region.
