The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Centre and several conservation bodies concerning the critically endangered feral horses in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Assam. This action follows a suo motu case initiated by the NGT after a concerning report highlighted the severe decline in the population of these unique animals, which are not found anywhere else in the world.
The bench, led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel, stressed the urgent need for intervention to prevent the extinction of these horses, which are believed to be descendants of war horses from World War II or the Przewalski’s horse species from China. These horses have adapted to the wild over approximately 80 years and are characterized by their untamed nature, roaming freely within the park’s boundaries.
The tribunal’s concern was triggered by a news report detailing threats to the horse population, such as smuggling, habitat loss, reduction in grazing fields, frequent floods, and apparent neglect by conservation authorities. These factors contribute to their dwindling numbers, raising alarms about their survival.
Addressing the legal and environmental oversight, the NGT pointed out that these horses are not currently protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. Moreover, the absence of a comprehensive census makes it challenging to effectively monitor and conserve the population. The bench cited potential violations of the Biodiversity Act and the Environment Protection Act, underscoring the substantial issues related to compliance with environmental norms.
Respondents to the notice include the secretaries of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the National Biodiversity Authority, and directors of the Zoological Survey of India and Wildlife Institute of India, as well as Assam’s chief wildlife warden. They are required to file their responses by February, with the tribunal scheduled to hear the matter on February 27 in its eastern zonal bench in Kolkata.
