Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma turned his focus to culture and conservation this Tuesday, September 22. He honored the Chay tribal community during Karam Puja while touting state success in protecting the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
Sarma took to social media to link the Karam Puja rituals to the deep-rooted faith of the Chay people. The festival celebrates nature, brotherhood, and prosperity. Traditional beats of the dhol-mandal and the jhumur dance rhythm showcase the state's folk traditions. He offered warm wishes to the community. "On the sacred occasion of Karam Puja, heartfelt greetings to all brothers and sisters of the Chay tribal society and to all the people of Assam," he said.
The mood shifted quickly to conservation. World Rhino Day brought fresh figures from the Chief Minister. He declared zero poaching in the state, noting that Assam holds 80 percent of the rhino population. State minister Jayanta Malla Baruah backed the efforts. He called the rhinoceros a cherished symbol of local heritage.
Baruah emphasized that the government continues to harden anti-poaching measures and habitat security under Sarma. The duo acknowledged this year's theme, "Keep the Five Alive," which pushes for the survival of the white, black, greater one-horned, Javan, and Sumatran rhino species. Kaziranga National Park remains the primary stronghold for the one-horned rhinoceros in the region.
Updated at 22nd September 2026 at 6:00pm
New data from the International Rhino Foundation pegs the global population of greater one-horned rhinos at 4,075, up from 4,014 in 2022. Assam hosts roughly 3,260 of those animals. The 2025 record of zero poaching marks only the second time since the 1970s the state has achieved that milestone, with the previous clean slate occurring in 2022.
While officials point to drones, improved intelligence, and specialized camps in Kaziranga as the backbone of this success, the fight isn't over. Environment Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah noted that habitat fragmentation, water shortages, invasive plant growth, and human encroachment remain constant threats as the herd expands.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal credited the current success to a shift in policy that began during his tenure as chief minister in 2016. He stated that before that crackdown, poaching was a routine affair in the state.
Updated at 23rd September 2026 at 5:46am
The latest International Rhino Foundation report pins the global greater one-horned rhino population at 4,075, a bump from 4,014 in 2022. Assam now claims roughly 3,260 of those animals. The state hit zero poaching in 2025, a rare feat managed only once before in 2022 since the 1970s.
While enforcement remains the bedrock of this turnaround, the state faces mounting pressure as its rhino population grows. Environment Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah identified encroaching human activity, water shortages, and invasive plant growth as persistent threats to the animals. Officials also pointed to the upcoming Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, a project launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost wildlife safety and movement during flood season.
Sarma also confirmed the rollout of Project Rhino, an initiative aimed at funneling technical and financial support into habitat management and genetic health. The Prime Minister noted that this federal backing extends to rhino ranges in Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, signaling a broader push to stabilize the species across the country.
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