Dibrugarh set for massive Rs 534 crore animal safari and rescue campus spanning 235 hectares

Assam's forest department is building a Rs 534 crore wildlife safari and rescue centre spread over 235 hectares near Dibrugarh, with enclosures for tigers, rhinos, lions and more planned across two phases.

Upper Assam is getting a large new addition to its conservation infrastructure, with the state forest department pushing ahead on a Rs 534 crore wildlife safari and rescue centre planned for Dibrugarh district.

State Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah went through the project blueprint on Sunday in a meeting with senior officials from the departments that will be involved in building and running the facility. The site earmarked for the project lies within the Namdang Reserved Forest area, which falls under the Tingkhong Assembly constituency.

 

A 235-hectare campus close to the city
The planned facility will spread across more than 235 hectares, making it one of the larger wildlife infrastructure projects in the region. Its location has been chosen with visitor access in mind, the site sits roughly 20 km from Dibrugarh town and close to 30 km from Dibrugarh airport, putting it within relatively easy reach for both local visitors and travellers flying into Upper Assam.

Two-phase construction, split by species
The Assam Public Works Department will execute the project in two separate phases. The first phase carries an estimated cost of Rs 259 crore and will focus on enclosures for tigers, rhinoceroses, leopards and bears, alongside a veterinary hospital and a dedicated rescue centre for injured or displaced wildlife.

The second phase, estimated at Rs 275 crore, will expand the facility to house Asiatic lions, cheetahs, zebras and hippos. This phase also includes plans for an advanced research centre, intended to support scientific work alongside the animal enclosures.

Conservation plus tourism, in one facility
Baruah described the project as a comprehensive facility that will strengthen the state's ability to rescue and conserve wildlife while also creating fresh opportunities for eco-tourism in the region. He shared details of the plan on X, calling it a step toward expanding Assam's wildlife conservation infrastructure.

Beyond drawing visitors, the centre is expected to create employment opportunities for people in the Dibrugarh region. Officials also expect its proximity to Dibrugarh city and the airport to improve tourist footfall, giving a wider boost to wildlife tourism across Upper Assam.

What this means for you
This project could turn Dibrugarh into a fresh wildlife tourism draw over the next few years, with real effects on jobs, travel and conservation capacity in the region.

• Across India: The new rescue centre and veterinary hospital will add to the country's capacity for treating and rehabilitating rescued wildlife, including big cats and rhinos. This could ease pressure on existing centres elsewhere when animals need to be relocated or treated.
• In Dibrugarh, Assam: Locals can expect construction-linked jobs first, followed by longer-term employment once the safari opens for staffing, guiding and maintenance roles. Anyone in the tourism or hospitality trade in the area should start planning for a bigger visitor footfall once the facility is operational.
• For travellers: Because the site is only about 20 km from Dibrugarh town and 30 km from Dibrugarh airport, visitors flying into Upper Assam will be able to add the safari to a short weekend trip once it is built.
• For wildlife enthusiasts: The two-phase plan means species like Asiatic lions, cheetahs and hippos, not native to Assam, could become viewable there for the first time, alongside native tigers, rhinos and leopards.

Questions & Answers

1. What is the estimated cost of this project?
The wildlife safari and rescue centre is estimated to cost Rs 534 crore.

2. Where will the facility be built?
It will be built in the Namdang Reserved Forest area in Dibrugarh district, under the Tingkhong Assembly constituency.

3. How large will the campus be?
The facility will span more than 235 hectares.

4. What will phase one include?
Phase one, estimated at Rs 259 crore, includes enclosures for tigers, rhinoceroses, leopards and bears, plus a veterinary hospital and a rescue centre.

5. What will phase two include?
Phase two, estimated at Rs 275 crore, includes facilities for Asiatic lions, cheetahs, zebras and hippos, along with an advanced research centre.

6. Who is building the project?
The Assam Public Works Department will execute it in two phases.

7. How far is the site from Dibrugarh airport?
It is about 30 km from Dibrugarh airport.

8. Who reviewed the project plan?
State Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah reviewed it on Sunday with senior officials.

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