15 Jun, 2026

Kaziranga’s Hidden Conservation Success: First Scientific Survey Reveals Healthy Greater Hog Badger Population

Globally renowned for its one-horned rhinos and thriving tiger population, a new scientific assessment has brought attention to one of Kaziranga’s lesser-known residents. The first-ever survey of the Greater Hog Badger, a globally Vulnerable species in India, has revealed a healthy and widespread population within Kaziranga National Park. Conducted using camera-trap data collected during tiger monitoring exercises, the study highlights the park’s remarkable biodiversity and reinforces Assam’s growing importance in wildlife conservation beyond flagship species.

First Scientific Assessment Brings Good News

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recently released its first scientific assessment of the Greater Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris), locally known as “Mati Gahori” in Assam.

The study was carried out by Kaziranga Tiger Cell and Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) as well as The Fishing Cat Project.

Researchers analysed camera-trap images collected during previous All India Tiger Estimation exercises to estimate population density and habitat occupancy.

The Recent Findings from the Park

The assessment produced encouraging results:

At least 55 individual Greater Hog Badgers estimated across approximately 1,100 sq km
Population found to be widely distributed across the reserve
Evidence suggests a healthy and potentially viable population
Presence recorded across diverse habitat types within Kaziranga
Officials have also indicated that more than 60 individuals were documented through camera-trap bycatch records.

Why This Finding Matters?

Greater Hog Badger Population in Kaziranga

The Greater Hog Badger is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and receives the highest legal protection under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Their major threats include habitat loss, hunting pressure, poaching and human disturbance.
Although the species occurs across several countries in South and Southeast Asia, populations have declined in many parts of its range.

The Greater Hog Badger may not receive the same attention as tigers or rhinos, but its ecological role is significant. Its presence often reflects a healthy and functioning ecosystem. As an omnivorous and highly fossorial mammal, it helps maintain ecosystem health by:

Aerating soil through digging activities
Redistributing nutrients within the forest floor
Turning over leaf litter during foraging
Creating conditions that support seed germination
Forming microhabitats for smaller animals and invertebrates

Why Assam and Northeast India Are Important?

Wildlife experts believe Northeast India may now represent one of the most important strongholds for the species. According to conservationists;

The species has declined significantly across much of Southeast Asia
India and Thailand are believed to support some of the healthiest remaining populations
Assam’s protected landscapes play a critical role in securing its future

The findings from Kaziranga further strengthen the region’s global conservation significance.

A Positive Sign for Kaziranga’s Biodiversity

Greater Hog Badger

This assessment demonstrates how existing wildlife monitoring programmes can uncover valuable information about lesser-known species. By using camera-trap data collected for tiger surveys, researchers have gained fresh insights into a species that has historically received limited scientific attention.

The discovery is also a reminder that successful conservation is not measured only by the survival of iconic animals. Healthy populations of smaller mammals such as the Greater Hog Badger are equally important indicators of a thriving ecosystem.

For conservationists, the findings represent more than just a population estimate in Kaziranga National Park. They offer evidence that Kaziranga’s diverse habitats continue to support wildlife at every level of the food chain, from the largest mammals to some of its most elusive burrowing residents.