Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted Assam’s wildlife conservation efforts in 138th episode of his monthly radio programme, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, citing the return of elephants to Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary and the recovery of the endangered pygmy hog population.“When we protect the environment, we are not only protecting trees, plants, and wildlife. We are also strengthening the entire ecosystem that sustains life,” Modi said.Referring to Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district, he said encroachment on forest land had earlier forced elephants away. “Three years ago, this land was cleared of encroachments… The elephants have returned to this forest once again,” he said.Modi said elephant herds were now being sighted in parts of the sanctuary where they had been absent for years.He also highlighted Assam’s pygmy hog conservation programme, which began with six animals and included efforts to restore grassland habitat. “Today, because of this programme, the number of pygmy hogs has grown to over 190,” he said.The pygmy hog, one of the world’s smallest and rarest wild pigs, depends on tall, undisturbed grasslands. Its conservation programme, launched in 1996 at Manas National Park, has involved captive breeding, reintroduction and grassland restoration. The population has recovered to 194.Assam has set a target of increasing the population to 300 by 2040, forest minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said on Sept 13.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while thanking the PM for highlighting Assam’s wildlife conservation effort, said, “Our efforts in this direction will continue, we will free up our land from encroachers and work towards protecting every species.”
