Dibrugarh: For the first time since its notification as a national park, Dibru-Saikhowa in Assam has confirmed the presence of a Royal Bengal Tiger through photographic evidence.
The tiger was spotted at Salibari in the Kundaghat area of the park. Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary shared the development on X, stating:
“Dibru–Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere Reserve, under the Tinsukia Wildlife Division, has created history with the first-ever recorded sighting of a Royal Bengal Tiger at Salibari in the Kundaghat area of the park.”
The news has generated widespread excitement, as this marks the first photographic evidence of a tiger in the park since it was notified as a national park.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Tinsukia Wildlife Division, Bibison Tokbi, said that the first photographic evidence was obtained on December 14, 2025, followed by another confirmation on January 1, 2026.
“For the last one month, camera-trapping has been carried out inside the park by a joint team of the forest department and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). We have installed 60 camera traps and have recorded the tiger on two occasions,” Tokbi said.
He added that this is the first confirmed photographic record of a Royal Bengal Tiger in Dibru-Saikhowa after it was declared a national park. “There were claims that tigers existed here earlier, but no photographic evidence was available. This time, we have clear photographic records. Logistic support was provided by WTI, and the entire team has worked tirelessly over the past month,” he said.
Nature enthusiast Devojit Moran welcomed the development, saying, “It is great news, and we are very happy about the sighting. We learned about it through the Forest Minister’s post, and it has filled wildlife lovers with hope.”
Another nature enthusiast, Niranta Gohain, said that tigers were believed to have inhabited the area earlier. “According to earlier records, around 27 Royal Bengal Tigers were present in Dibru-Saikhowa in 1997, but over time they disappeared from the jungle,” he said.
Forest officials also reported other significant wildlife sightings in the park. A porcupine has been spotted for the first time, and a wild dog-like animal has also been observed. Officials from the Guijan range, with assistance from WTI, are continuing monitoring and identification efforts.