Reported by Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: A nationwide tiger census has led to an unexpected conservation breakthrough in Assam, with camera-trap data revealing that Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve harbors a significant population of the elusive Greater Hog Badger, one of Asia’s least-studied carnivorous mammals.
The first scientific assessment of the species in Kaziranga estimates a minimum population of 55 Greater Hog Badgers, positioning the UNESCO World Heritage Site among the most important known habitats for the globally vulnerable animal in South Asia.
The study utilised thousands of camera-trap photographs originally collected during the All India Tiger Estimation exercise. Researchers from Kaziranga’s Tiger Cell, working alongside the Wildlife Conservation Trust and The Fishing Cat Project, analysed the extensive dataset to better understand the status and distribution of the little-known species.
Locally known as Mati Gahori, the Greater Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris) is the largest badger species in the world. Despite its size, the nocturnal mammal remains poorly documented due to its secretive nature and preference for dense grasslands, forests and wetland ecosystems.
The research recorded over 140 detections of Greater Hog Badgers across 857 camera-trap sites throughout Kaziranga, indicating that the species is widely distributed across the park’s floodplain landscape. Key concentration areas were identified along the Diffolu River near Kerasin and Daphlang, as well as around Sohola on the reserve’s eastern fringe.
The findings are considered particularly important as Greater Hog Badger populations have declined across much of Southeast Asia due to habitat degradation, hunting pressures and increasing human disturbance. Conservation experts believe that India and Thailand now support some of the species’ strongest remaining populations, highlighting the growing significance of protected areas in Northeast India.
The Greater Hog Badger is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and receives the highest level of legal protection in India under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Researchers said the study underscores the broader conservation value of camera-trap surveys designed for flagship species such as tigers, noting that these datasets can also provide critical insights into lesser-known wildlife that often receives limited scientific attention.
The discovery further reinforces Kaziranga’s ecological importance beyond its globally renowned populations of one-horned rhinoceroses, tigers, elephants and wild buffaloes, showcasing the park’s role in protecting a diverse range of threatened species.
Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah welcomed the findings, stating that the widespread presence of the elusive mammal reflects the ecological integrity of Kaziranga and highlights the need to conserve all elements of biodiversity, not just flagship species.
Researchers added that the assessment establishes an important baseline for future monitoring efforts and conservation planning for a species that remains poorly studied across much of its geographic range.