In July 2024, Mongabay India published a report on environmental and social concerns surrounding proposed tourism developments near Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in the Indian state of Assam. This protected area, spread across 1,300 square kilometers, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the one-horned rhinoceros as well as elephants, tigers, and a host of other threatened and unique species.
Journalist Nabarun Guha’s coverage demonstrated that proposed tourism infrastructure projects, including luxury hotels, could be a threat to wildlife, especially in the Inle Pothar area, a traditional haven for elephants. His report also explained that activists are demanding that the government acknowledge farmers’ rights over the land where the projects are being proposed.
Apart from detailing environmental concerns, including risks to wildlife movement and increased human-animal conflict, Guha’s report shed light on potential social justice issues such as the land rights dispute plus the marginalization of tea garden workers.
