Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) hit a major milestone. It marked 25 years of service on August 28. Located at Panbari near Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, the facility has rescued over 10,000 wild animals since its start on August 28, 2002. Nearly 68 percent of these animals were treated and released back into their natural habitats.
The centre operates as a joint effort between the Wildlife Trust of India, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the Assam Forest Department. It receives support from the Animal Welfare Division of the Centre and maintains recognition from the Central Zoo Authority. Two Mobile Veterinary Service units extend its reach across eastern and western Assam.
Staffers treat injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife. They handle species ranging from rhino calves and Asiatic black bear cubs to hoolock gibbons and wild buffalo. Teams use scientific protocols to hand-raise orphans and prepare animals for release. They also work with the Forest Department during floods to reach stranded animals and attempt to reunite young creatures with their mothers.
Assam Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah praised the team for their work. He noted that the center supports wider projects, such as the reintroduction of rhinos into Manas National Park and initiatives in Dibru-Saikhowa and Dehing Patkai. The center also runs community outreach programs to curb human-animal conflict.
"Since its establishment on August 28, 2002, CWRC has responded to more than 10,000 wildlife rescue cases, with nearly 68 per cent of the animals successfully treated and released back into the wild," Baruah said. "Our conservation journey is not only about rescuing animals. It is about giving them the opportunity to return to the forests where they belong."
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