The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a tough stand on the decreasing number of rare feral horses living in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam. In this case, the tribunal has given two weeks to the Assam government to file a reply. Along with this, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Wildlife Institute of India and Zoological Survey of India have also been given the same period to respond. The matter was raised on the basis of the report “The Last Feral Horses in India” published in an environmental magazine on 5 November 2024.
The condition of the rare species is worrying
According to the report, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is the only place in India where feral horses are still alive in the wild. These horses have been living in this area for about 80 years and their condition is now said to be very worrying. Many experts believe that these horses are the offspring of the horses left by the army during the Second World War, while some experts also consider them to be descendants of the Przewalski breed of China. The report states that smuggling, loss of habitat, lack of pastures, floods and negligence of the administration are responsible for the decrease in their numbers.
Do not come under the Wildlife Act
The most worrying thing is that these horses do not come under the purview of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India. This means that they are not considered ‘wild animals’. The report mentioned an incident in which six feral horses were caught from a truck while smuggling in 2020, but due to lack of legal provisions, the culprits could not be punished. This is the reason why no concrete steps have been taken towards their conservation. Also, there is no regular census of these horses, due to which their actual number and status cannot be known.
If protection is not given, these unique creatures may become extinct
Justice B in the Eastern Zone Bench of NGT Kolkata. A division bench of Amit Sthalekar and expert member Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati is hearing this petition. During the hearing, the Ministry of Environment (MoEF&CC) filed an affidavit on April 4, 2025, which has been taken on record. On the other hand, the lawyers of the Chief Wildlife Warden and Animal Husbandry Department on behalf of the Assam government appeared in virtual mode and sought two weeks’ time, which was accepted. Similarly, the lawyers of NBA, Wildlife Institute and Zoological Survey present in the court were also given two weeks’ time. Environmentalists say that if there is no intervention soon, these horses may become extinct, which will be a big loss to the country’s biodiversity.
