The Chief Minister's Office of Assam on 4 June 2026 announced that Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has recorded a notable surge in tourist footfall, generating revenue of over Rs 81.5 lakh during the 2025-26 fiscal year. The figures, shared on the official handle, point to growing traction for one of Assam's smaller but ecologically significant protected areas.

In its post, the CMO stated that 'Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary records a surge in tourist footfall, generating over Rs 81.5 lakh in revenue during 2025-26.' The announcement was accompanied by a visual from the sanctuary and a link to a regional report carrying the detailed numbers.

Context

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Assam's Morigaon district, is internationally recognised for hosting one of the highest densities of the greater one-horned rhinoceros anywhere in India. Spread across a compact floodplain landscape on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, the sanctuary has long served as a satellite conservation site and a 'spillover' habitat for rhinos from Kaziranga National Park.

Despite its modest size compared with Kaziranga, Pobitora has steadily emerged as a weekend wildlife destination for visitors from Guwahati, roughly 50 km away, as well as domestic and foreign tourists seeking jeep and elephant safaris.

Policy backdrop

Assam has pursued eco-tourism development in its rhino-bearing landscapes since the 2000s, with the state forest department aligning local initiatives with national Project Rhino conservation efforts. The strategy has paired anti-poaching deployments with infrastructure upgrades — improved approach roads, interpretation centres, safari logistics and community-run homestays around buffer zones.

Revenue from entry fees, safari charges and allied services is reported annually by the forest department as a performance metric. The latest disclosure from the CMO situates Pobitora within this broader accountability framework, signalling that smaller sanctuaries are being measured not only on wildlife numbers but also on visitor economics.

Stakeholders and impact

Higher footfall has direct implications for local communities in fringe villages, where guides, drivers, homestay operators and handicraft sellers depend on the seasonal visitor flow. Tourist spending typically extends beyond ticketing to food, transport and accommodation in and around Mayong and other nearby settlements.

For the Government of Assam, rising revenue strengthens the case for reinvesting in habitat management, including grassland upkeep, water-body restoration and patrolling — all critical for rhino survival in a sanctuary that faces recurring pressure from Brahmaputra floods and habitat fragmentation.

Conservation managers have also flagged the need to balance visitor growth with carrying capacity. Pobitora's small core area means that unchecked tourism could disturb rhino movement and grazing patterns, making zoning and visitor caps an ongoing policy question.

What's next

Attention will turn to the state forest department's next annual tourism and revenue figures, and to any fresh budget allocations for sanctuary infrastructure upgrades. Officials are expected to weigh proposals for expanded safari slots, digital ticketing and community-tourism tie-ups in the buffer.

The broader signal from the CMO's disclosure is that Assam intends to position its protected-area network — not just Kaziranga but also Pobitora, Manas, Orang and Nameri — as both biodiversity assets and revenue-generating destinations. How that balance is struck at Pobitora, given its size and ecological sensitivity, will shape the template for smaller sanctuaries across the Northeast.