Manas National Park in Assam, once pushed to the brink of ecological collapse during the Bodo insurgency period due to poaching, deforestation, and prolonged conflict, has emerged as one of India’s most significant conservation recovery stories.
Recent scientific assessments and forest department updates (2024–2025) indicate a strong resurgence in key wildlife populations, including tigers, elephants, and the reintroduced greater one-horned rhinoceros, alongside improved habitat conditions across grasslands, wetlands, and forests.
The transformation has been driven by a combination of strengthened protection after the 2003 Bodo Accord, sustained efforts by the Assam Forest Department, conservation NGO Aaranyak, and local communities, alongside the long-term work of scientist Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, whose research, grassroots engagement, and conflict mitigation initiatives have been central to rebuilding the Manas landscape.
Once listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site “in danger”, Manas was removed from the list in 2011 and is today considered a global example of post-conflict ecological recovery, even as experts caution that long-term stability remains fragile and requires continued community-centred conservation.
From Insurgency to Biodiversity Revival
The story of Manas National Park is inseparable from the history of the Bodo movement, which reshaped Assam’s political and ecological landscape from the late 20th century onwards. Between the 1960s and early 2000s, prolonged insurgency turned the park into a conflict zone, where governance structures weakened, forest protection collapsed, and poaching networks flourished.
In the absence of enforcement, large mammals such as tigers, elephants, deer, and the greater one-horned rhinoceros suffered drastic population declines, with reports confirming local extinctions of rhinos in the early 2000s. By 1992, UNESCO had declared Manas a World Heritage Site “in danger”, reflecting the severity of ecological degradation.
However, the post-2003 peace accord period marked a turning point. With the establishment of the Bodoland Territorial Council and renewed state presence, coordinated conservation efforts were introduced. The Assam Forest Department increased patrolling, restored damaged grasslands and wetlands, and strengthened anti-poaching operations.
Community participation became a cornerstone of conservation strategy, with former conflict-affected youth gradually integrated into protection and eco-tourism roles. Over time, these interventions laid the foundation for wildlife recovery.
Recent assessments indicate a significant rise in tiger numbers since the early 2010s, with some studies suggesting a multi-fold increase in density, alongside stabilising elephant populations and the gradual return of key grassland species. This ecological rebound ultimately led to Manas being removed from UNESCO’s “in danger” list in 2011, marking a symbolic but important milestone in its recovery journey.
Lahkar’s Conflict-Era Conservation Science
At the heart of Manas’ recovery narrative is conservation scientist Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, whose work over three decades has bridged field ecology, community engagement, and conflict-sensitive conservation. Having first visited Manas in the early 1990s during a period of intense unrest, Lahkar witnessed firsthand the breakdown of ecological systems.
He has recalled how “bullet sounds were frequent even while working in the park,” and how rampant deforestation and poaching led to the disappearance of key species, including the last recorded wild rhino in the early 2000s.
Despite these conditions, Lahkar continued his work with conservation organisation Aaranyak, focusing on wildlife research, biodiversity monitoring, and capacity-building among local communities. His efforts included training forest personnel, supporting ecological surveys, and helping establish community awareness programmes during a period when trust between institutions and residents was deeply fractured.
Over time, his work expanded into addressing human-wildlife conflict, particularly involving elephants, which began increasingly encroaching into agricultural and settlement areas as habitats shifted. Lahkar and his team introduced early warning systems, supported compensation mechanisms for affected villagers, and promoted habitat restoration to reduce conflict intensity.
More recently, innovative measures such as bio-fencing using Assam lemon plantations have been introduced, offering both ecological and livelihood benefits. These integrated approaches have become central to the evolving conservation strategy in the Manas landscape and surrounding elephant corridors.
Community Conservation, Eco-Tourism, Fragile Future
A defining feature of Manas’ revival has been the growing role of local communities in conservation and eco-tourism. In the years following peace restoration, initiatives led by conservationists and local organisations helped transform former conflict-affected residents into forest guides, eco-tourism operators, and conservation volunteers.
Community-led initiatives such as homestays have created alternative livelihoods, reducing dependence on forest resources and strengthening local ownership of conservation outcomes. Former insurgency-affected youth, in particular, have played a crucial role in supporting anti-poaching efforts and wildlife monitoring alongside forest authorities.
Field officials who worked in Manas during the mid-2010s have reported steady improvements in wildlife security, including a significant reduction in poaching incidents and a gradual return of ecological balance across key habitats. The resurgence of tourism has also contributed to economic revival in fringe villages, reinforcing the link between conservation and livelihood security.
However, experts emphasise that these gains remain fragile. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, and the pressures of development continue to pose risks to long-term ecological stability. Conservationists stress that sustained funding, scientific monitoring, and continued community engagement are essential to ensure that Manas does not relapse into ecological vulnerability.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The revival of Manas National Park stands as a powerful example of how ecosystems scarred by conflict can recover when peacebuilding and conservation are pursued together with patience, empathy, and long-term commitment. It demonstrates that conservation is not merely a scientific or administrative exercise, but a deeply human process that depends on trust between institutions and local communities.
Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar’s journey reflects the importance of staying committed to ecological restoration even in the most challenging circumstances, while also recognising that sustainable conservation must include livelihoods, dignity, and participation for those living closest to wildlife.
