Assam's Kaziranga Tiger Reserve has world's third-highest tiger population density
Assam's Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) has recorded the third-highest tiger density in India after Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Uttarakhand's Corbett National Park, according to a report on the status of tigers in the reserve, which is better known for its one-horned rhinoceros.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma released the report online to mark Global Tiger Day on Tuesday.
The report stated that 148 tigers were recorded across the 1,307.49 sq. km expanse of KTR in 2024. The 'remarkable' increase in tiger numbers since the 2022 estimation was attributed to the first-ever sampling of the Biswanath Wildlife Division, where 27 tigers were recorded.
Also Read | Kaziranga Tiger Reserve is a bed of orchids for the famed one-horned rhino
The tiger count grew from 104 in 2022 to 115 in 2024 in the core Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, while the Nagaon Wildlife Division maintained a count of six tigers.
'From Kaziranga to Manas, Assam is not only limited to protecting the tiger, but it is also playing an important role in restoring the tiger's habitat. With the third-highest tiger density in the world, extensive forest cover and bold steps against infiltration, the tiger, the treasure of Assam's forests, is walking proudly and bravely today,' Mr. Sarma said.
Assam is not just protecting tigers, it is reclaiming their kingdom.
With the world's 3rd highest tiger density, expanded reserves and bold action against encroachment, the striped beasts of Assam continue to roam with power and pride.
Best wishes on #InternationalTigerDay 🐯 pic.twitter.com/HrpJAH0oam — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 29, 2025
According to a comparative chart in the report, KTR has 18.65 tigers per 100 sq. km - behind Bandipur's 19.83 tigers in 1,456 sq. km and Corbett's 19.56 in 1,288 sq. km.
KTR officials said the survey was conducted between December 2023 and April 2024 using camera traps, following the protocol of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India.
The spatially explicit capture-recapture method, which provides a more precise and ecologically relevant approach than conventional estimation methods, was employed to determine tiger numbers.
'During the 103-day camera trapping survey, 13,157 trap nights yielded 4,011 tiger images across 242 locations. The right-flank stripe patterns were used to identify 148 adult tigers in KTR's three divisions: 83 females, 55 males, and 10 individuals with undetermined gender,' the report noted.
Officials said key factors behind the population increase included habitat expansion and protection. In recent years, 200 sq. km - including 12.82 sq. km of encroachment-free land - was added under the Burhachapori-Laokhowa sanctuaries of the Nagaon Wildlife Division.
'This strategic extension has significantly expanded the landscape available to tigers, allowing for increased movement, breeding, and dispersal opportunities across divisions,' an official said.
The first estimation in Kaziranga in 1997 recorded 80 tigers. The number gradually increased to 121 in the 2019 estimation but dipped to 104 in 2022.
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