The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Borjuri, near Kaziranga National Park, has rescued a cumulative 10,096 wild animals across 303 species as of July 31, 2026, of which 6,642 have been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild, Assam's Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said during a review visit to the facility on August 8. Mallabaruah was accompanied by Cabinet colleague and Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, with the visit focused on assessing the centre's infrastructure and its ongoing rescue and rehabilitation operations.
Background
CWRC was established in 2002 by the Assam Forest Department in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), with additional international support from IFAW, making it India's only facility of its kind where orphaned and injured wild animals across a wide range of species are hand-raised, medically treated, and — where possible — returned to their natural habitat rather than kept permanently in captivity. Situated adjacent to the Panbari Reserve Forest bordering Kaziranga, the centre has become central to Assam's wider wildlife conservation infrastructure, particularly given Kaziranga's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its high concentration of large mammal species, including the one-horned rhinoceros, elephants and tigers.
The centre's rescue caseload rises sharply during Assam's annual monsoon flood season, when rising water in Kaziranga and surrounding areas regularly displaces animals, separates young from parents, and forces wildlife into contact with human settlements as they seek higher ground — a recurring seasonal pattern that has made CWRC's rapid-response rescue capacity increasingly important as flood severity has varied across recent years.
Key Details
- As of July 31, 2026, CWRC has rescued a total of 10,096 wild animals across 303 species since its operations began.
- Of those, 6,642 animals have been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild — a release rate of roughly two-thirds of all animals rescued.
- The August 8 visit by Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah and Minister Atul Bora was aimed at taking stock of the centre's facilities and reviewing its ongoing rescue, treatment and rehabilitation work.
- CWRC remains India's only dedicated facility handling this breadth of species for hand-rearing and treatment prior to release, distinguishing it from most zoo-based or single-species rehabilitation programmes elsewhere in the country.
At a Glance: CWRC Rescue Statistics (as of July 31, 2026)
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total animals rescued (cumulative) | 10,096 |
| Species represented | 303 |
| Successfully rehabilitated and released | 6,642 |
| Release rate | ~66% |
| Facility established | 2002 |
| Location | Borjuri, adjacent to Panbari Reserve Forest, near Kaziranga |
| Partner organisations | Assam Forest Department, Wildlife Trust of India, IFAW |
Local Impact
For Kaziranga's wildlife, CWRC functions as a critical safety net during flood season and beyond, giving injured, orphaned or displaced animals — from rhino calves separated from mothers during floods to smaller species caught in human-wildlife conflict situations — a pathway back to the wild rather than permanent captivity or death. A roughly two-thirds release rate is a meaningful conservation outcome given the range of species and injury severity the centre handles, though it also implies a substantial share of rescued animals cannot ultimately be returned to the wild due to injury severity, habituation to humans, or other welfare considerations.
For the districts surrounding Kaziranga, the centre's work also reduces human-wildlife conflict risk indirectly: animals that might otherwise wander into villages while injured or disoriented are instead captured, treated and either released back into protected forest or held for specialist care, lowering the chance of dangerous encounters with local communities.
What Happens Next
With the current monsoon and flood season still active in parts of Assam, CWRC's rescue caseload is likely to continue growing through the coming weeks as seasonal flooding in and around Kaziranga persists. State officials are expected to continue periodic reviews of the centre's capacity and facilities, particularly given the minister-level attention shown in this visit, and further infrastructure or capacity announcements may follow if reviews identify gaps in the centre's ability to handle rescue volumes during peak flood periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CWRC?
The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility at Borjuri near Kaziranga National Park, established in 2002 by the Assam Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India.
How many animals has CWRC rescued?
As of July 31, 2026, CWRC has rescued 10,096 wild animals across 303 species since it began operations.
How many rescued animals have been released back into the wild?
6,642 animals have been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild, a release rate of roughly two-thirds.
Who visited the centre on August 8?
Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah and Agriculture Minister Atul Bora visited CWRC to review its facilities and ongoing rehabilitation work.
Why is CWRC significant nationally?
It is India's only dedicated facility handling this breadth of species for hand-rearing, treatment and release back to the wild, rather than permanent captivity.
Why does CWRC's rescue caseload rise during monsoon season?
Annual flooding in and around Kaziranga displaces animals, separates young from parents, and pushes wildlife into contact with human settlements as they seek higher ground, driving up rescue numbers seasonally.
Who funds and partners with CWRC?
The centre operates through a partnership between the Assam Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India, with additional support from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
Where is CWRC located?
It is located at Borjuri village, adjacent to the Panbari Reserve Forest bordering Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
Sources
ANI, Social News XYZ, HubNetwork
