Dibrugarh: Driven out of the floodplains, Dibrugarh’s rare feral horses found an unlikely refuge on city streets.The forest department rescued a group of feral horses that was roaming Dibrugarh for several days and relocated them to Sisu Chapori, a sandbar on the Brahmaputra, officials said on Tuesday.The horses, believed to be descendants of domesticated animals left behind during World War II, strayed into town after recent floods displaced them from Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. Their movement on busy roads raised concerns among residents and wildlife officials over possible accidents.Assam forest minister Jayanta Malla Baruah confirmed the operation on X, saying, “Acting promptly on reports of feral horses roaming through Dibrugarh town, our Forest Department safely rescued them to prevent any mishap.”“To ensure their long-term safety and well-being, all the rescued horses have now been relocated to Sisu Chapori, where they have access to ample grazing land, adequate fodder and a secure natural habitat,” he added.Forest officials said the operation was carried out carefully as the animals were unused to urban surroundings and could pose a risk to traffic and residents.The feral horses of Dibru-Saikhowa are considered a rare wildlife legacy. Believed to have descended from cavalry horses abandoned after World War II, they have survived for nearly eight decades in the park’s floodplains, grasslands and wetlands across Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts.Floods have repeatedly pushed the animals beyond their habitat. Last year, several were swept downstream and took shelter near Bogibeel Bridge before returning after water receded.Officials said Sisu Chapori’s open grazing land and relative isolation would offer the herd a safer habitat. The horses will be monitored to ensure they adapt and do not stray towards populated areas.
The feral horses of Dibru-Saikhowa are considered a rare wildlife legacy
