Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" class="no-js"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,minimum-scale=1,initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1" /> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#141414"> <meta name="theme-color" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" content="#141414"> <meta name="theme-color" media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" content="#141414"> <meta name="google-play-app" content="app-id=in.scroll.android"> <meta name="twitter:app:name:googleplay" content="Scroll.in App for Android"> <meta name="twitter:app:id:googleplay" content="in.scroll.android"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Scroll.in News (RSS 2.0)" href="https://feeds.feedburner.com/ScrollinArticles.rss"> <title>Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses</title> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/opensearch.xml" title="Scroll.in"> <link href="scroll_in" rel="publisher"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon.5f31c86209ff21c26b68aabf47772769.003.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-16x16.5f31c86209ff21c26b68aabf47772769.003.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-32x32.5f31c86209ff21c26b68aabf47772769.003.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-96x96.4cc034945103e3d2a902c9f81dceb823.003.png" sizes="96x96"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/favicon-160x160.7d97c537daffcf114789e9abfa5fb07f.003.png" sizes="160x160"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-57x57.277cea0346eb4df5b677579fca717306.003.png" sizes="57x57"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-72x72.53ee5cb4271f912e403784b41ffd9311.003.png" sizes="72x72"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-114x114.9dc8c17e787ea5a8d991fe66621ed49a.003.png" sizes="114x114"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://scroll.in/static/assets/apple-touch-icon-144x144.b71c766a62abe812b4b37e7f21e91e56.003.png" sizes="144x144"> <meta property="og:title" content="Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses"> <meta name="description" content="Feral horses are free-roaming horses that descended from a domesticated stock. But they have lived in the wild for almost 80 years in Assam’s Dibru Saikhowa."> <meta name="author" content="Nabarun Guha"> <meta property="og:description" content="Feral horses are free-roaming horses that descended from a domesticated stock. But they have lived in the wild for almost 80 years in Assam’s Dibru Saikhowa."> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204383-ugwsqabpuu-1731584455.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="600"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="315"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Scroll.in"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses"> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in"> <meta name="keywords" content="India, assam wild horse, feral horse assam, What is the difference between wild and feral horses?, Where can I find feral horses?, assam feral horses, dibru saikhowa national park feral horse"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204383-ugwsqabpuu-1731584455.jpg"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Feral horses are free-roaming horses that descended from a domesticated stock. But they have lived in the wild for almost 80 years in Assam’s Dibru Saikhowa."> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses"> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@scroll_in"> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@scroll_in"> <meta name="twitter:site:id" content="@scroll_in"> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses"> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="Feral horses are free-roaming horses that descended from a domesticated stock. But they have lived in the wild for almost 80 years in Assam’s Dibru Saikhowa."> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="Text"> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html"> <meta name="dcterms.language" content="en_US"> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses"> <meta name="dcterms.created" content="2024-11-28T19:30:00+05:30"> <meta name="dcterms.available" content="2024-11-28T19:30:00+05:30"> <meta name="dcterms.publisher" content="https://scroll.in"> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Nabarun Guha"> <meta name="dcterms.subject" content="India, assam wild horse, feral horse assam, What is the difference between wild and feral horses?, Where can I find feral horses?, assam feral horses, dibru saikhowa national park feral horse"> <meta name="atdlayout" content="articlepage"> <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=1313224234, app-argument=https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses"> <meta property="article:tag" content="India"> <meta property="article:tag" content="assam wild horse"> <meta property="article:tag" content="feral horse assam"> <meta property="article:tag" content="What is the difference between wild and feral horses?"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Where can I find feral horses?"> <meta property="article:tag" content="assam feral horses"> <meta property="article:tag" content="dibru saikhowa national park feral horse"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses"> <link rel="schema.DCTERMS" href="https://purl.org/dc/terms/"> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://amp.scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" }, "headline": "Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/204383-ugwsqabpuu-1731584455.jpg", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "keywords": "assam wild horse, feral horse assam, What is the difference between wild and feral horses?, Where can I find feral horses?, assam feral horses, dibru saikhowa national park feral horse", "datePublished": "2024-11-28T19:30:00+05:30", "dateModified": "2024-11-28T19:30:01.765121+05:30", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nabarun Guha", "sameAs": "https://scroll.in/author/18056" } , "publisher": { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Scroll.in", "url" : "https://scroll.in", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-logo-235x60.f692efa0f186cc40d85a5dac45e3a4af.003.png", "width": 235, "height": 60 }, "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in", "https://www.twitter.com/scroll_in", "https://plus.google.com/scroll_in", "https://instagram.com/+ScrollIn"] }, "description": "Feral horses are free-roaming horses that descended from a domesticated stock. But they have lived in the wild for almost 80 years in Assam’s Dibru Saikhowa." } </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Scroll.in", "url" : "https://scroll.in", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-logo-235x60.f692efa0f186cc40d85a5dac45e3a4af.003.png", "width": 235, "height": 60 }, "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in", "https://www.twitter.com/scroll_in", "https://plus.google.com/scroll_in", "https://instagram.com/+ScrollIn"] } </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Scroll.in", "url" : "https://scroll.in", "potentialAction": { "@type":"SearchAction", "target":"https://scroll.in/search?q={search_term_string}", "query-input":"required name=search_term_string" } } </script><link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Serif+Display&family=Noto+Sans:wght@400;700;900&family=Noto+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Poppins:wght@400;500;600;700;900&display=swap" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Serif+Display&family=Noto+Sans:wght@400;700;900&family=Noto+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Poppins:wght@400;500;600;700;900&display=swap" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" /> <noscript> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DM+Serif+Display&family=Noto+Sans:wght@400;700;900&family=Noto+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Poppins:wght@400;500;600;700;900&display=swap" /> </noscript> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://scroll.in/static/css/base.d4404e3af49050372009.003.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://scroll.in/static/css/article.15e8d835e968ff63813a.003.css"> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-G1T78Y8E5C"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-G1T78Y8E5C'); </script> <script> (function() { var faLink = document.createElement('link'); faLink.type = 'text/css'; faLink.rel = 'stylesheet'; faLink.href='https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.0.6/css/all.css'; document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(faLink); })(); </script> </head> <body class=" scroll"> <div id="app-banner-container"></div> <nav class="main-navigation skeleton-navigation" id="main_navigation"> <div class="scroll-top-nav"> <div class="scroll-top-nav-wrapper"> <div class="scroll-top-left-nav"> <a href="#" class="hamburger-menu-container scroll-navigation-more"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="18"> <path fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero" d="M18.776.256H1.256C.566.256 0 .818 0 1.504c0 .687.565 1.248 1.256 1.248h17.488c.69 0 1.256-.561 1.256-1.248 0-.686-.534-1.248-1.224-1.248Zm-17.52 9.992H14.85c.69 0 1.256-.562 1.256-1.248 0-.686-.565-1.248-1.256-1.248H1.256C.566 7.752 0 8.314 0 9c0 .686.565 1.248 1.256 1.248Zm17.52 5H1.256c-.69 0-1.256.561-1.256 1.248 0 .686.565 1.248 1.256 1.248h17.488c.69 0 1.256-.562 1.256-1.248 0-.687-.534-1.248-1.224-1.248Z"> </path> </svg> </a> <ul class="scroll-top-left-nav-links non-list-items"> <li> <a class="newsletters hide-on-mobile" href="/newsletter">Newsletters</a> </li> <li> <a class="gift-membership hide-on-mobile" href="/gift-membership?utm_source=navbar">Gift Membership</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="scroll-top-center-nav"> <a class="scroll-logo-wrapper" href="/"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-logo.0f68c78dd023e2598248ea107feba562.003.svg" alt="Logo"> </a> <a class="scroll-logo-wrapper members-logo-wrapper" href="/"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-member.6be777075e9d469c2c2f1e1821e04169.003.svg" alt="Logo"> </a> </div> <div class="scroll-top-right-nav"> <div class="button-group"> <a href="//scroll.in/contribute?utm_source=web_navigation_bar" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button brand-button become-member-button"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/coins-icon.e7de2a252144b8daed137824d8a08028.003.svg" alt="" class="hide-on-mobile"> <span class="hide-on-mobile">Become a member</span> <span class="hide-on-desktop">Subscribe</span> </button> </a> <a href="#" id="getAppNavButton" class="button-wrapper hideOnApp"> <button class="button scroll-app-entry-button"> <span>Get app</span> </button> </a> <a href="//scroll.in/signin" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button signin-button"> <svg width="18" height="18" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M9 1c4.414 0 8 3.586 8 8s-3.586 8-8 8-8-3.586-8-8 3.586-8 8-8Zm0 .827a7.173 7.173 0 0 0-7.171 7.17c0 1.652.565 3.168 1.515 4.39 1.561-1.765 3.53-2.738 5.656-2.738 2.127 0 4.095.973 5.656 2.738a7.065 7.065 0 0 0 1.515-4.39A7.173 7.173 0 0 0 9 1.828Zm0 1.84a2.888 2.888 0 0 1 2.889 2.889A2.888 2.888 0 0 1 9 9.444a2.888 2.888 0 0 1-2.889-2.888A2.888 2.888 0 0 1 9 3.666Z" fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero"></path> </svg> <span class="hide-on-mobile">Sign in</span> </button> </a> <a href="//scroll.in/search" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button search-button"> <svg width="12.5" height="12.5" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M12.102 11.496 9 8.388a4.929 4.929 0 0 0 1.148-3.18A4.948 4.948 0 1 0 .25 5.19c0 2.73 2.223 4.958 4.949 4.958a4.86 4.86 0 0 0 3.156-1.15l3.12 3.108c.09.09.197.144.322.144a.383.383 0 0 0 .305-.144c.197-.143.197-.43 0-.61ZM1.164 5.19a4.052 4.052 0 1 1 8.105 0A4.067 4.067 0 0 1 5.2 9.25a4.037 4.037 0 0 1-4.035-4.06Z" fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero" stroke="#C5C5C5" stroke-width=".5"></path> </svg> </button> </a> <div class="nav-tooltip scroll-app-tooltip hideOnApp" id="scrollAppNavTooltip" style="display: none"> <span class="nav-tooltip-title"> Take Scroll With You </span> <small class="nav-tooltip-description">Download the app to read our award-winning journalism on the go and stay up-to-date with our notifications.</small> <div class="scroll-app-upsell hideOnApp on-navigation-scroll-app-upsell"> <div class="sa-content"> <div class="sa-head"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-square-logo.9e100dd6eb50cbf476dd78e0586bb366.003.svg" alt="Get the app"> <span>Get the app</span> </div> <div class="sa-cta"> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.scroll.android" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="Android App Upsell clicked from navigation"> <span>ANDROID</span> <svg width="15.063" height="16.953" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m8.826 8.778 2.221 2.21L.737 16.92a.504.504 0 0 1-.071.033l8.16-8.175ZM.06.058 8.343 8.3.02 16.637A.496.496 0 0 1 0 16.494V.294C0 .213.02.132.06.06Zm11.464 6.017 3.29 1.892a.492.492 0 0 1 0 .855l-3.157 1.814-2.351-2.34 2.218-2.221ZM.965 0l9.95 5.724-2.09 2.095L.964 0Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/scroll-in-news/id1313224234" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="iOS App Upsell clicked from navigation"> <span>iOS</span> <svg width="13.987" height="17.192" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M11.683 9.143a3.907 3.907 0 0 1 1.86-3.278 4 4 0 0 0-3.15-1.704c-1.327-.139-2.612.794-3.288.794-.688 0-1.728-.78-2.849-.757a4.196 4.196 0 0 0-3.53 2.154C-.803 8.995.336 12.88 1.8 15.017c.732 1.047 1.587 2.216 2.706 2.174 1.095-.045 1.504-.698 2.826-.698 1.31 0 1.693.698 2.835.672 1.175-.02 1.915-1.051 2.622-2.107.525-.746.93-1.57 1.198-2.442a3.775 3.775 0 0 1-2.304-3.473ZM9.526 2.756c.64-.77.956-1.758.88-2.756a3.914 3.914 0 0 0-2.533 1.31 3.66 3.66 0 0 0-.902 2.654 3.236 3.236 0 0 0 2.555-1.208Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="button-group members-button-group"> <a href="//scroll.in/gift-membership" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button gift-membership-button"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/gift-icon.36686dc2eba39329075a214cc01c7e84.003.svg" alt=""> <span>Gift Membership</span> </button> </a> <a href="//scroll.in/search" class="button-wrapper"> <button class="button search-button"> <svg width="12.5" height="12.5" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M12.102 11.496 9 8.388a4.929 4.929 0 0 0 1.148-3.18A4.948 4.948 0 1 0 .25 5.19c0 2.73 2.223 4.958 4.949 4.958a4.86 4.86 0 0 0 3.156-1.15l3.12 3.108c.09.09.197.144.322.144a.383.383 0 0 0 .305-.144c.197-.143.197-.43 0-.61ZM1.164 5.19a4.052 4.052 0 1 1 8.105 0A4.067 4.067 0 0 1 5.2 9.25a4.037 4.037 0 0 1-4.035-4.06Z" fill="#C5C5C5" fill-rule="nonzero" stroke="#C5C5C5" stroke-width=".5"></path> </svg> </button> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nav-feed-links-container"> <ul class="nav-feed-links-wrapper non-list-items"> <li data-stop-js="1" class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="All News Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Home </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/56439/common-ground" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Common Ground Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Common Ground </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/56455/the-india-fix" data-category="Mobile" data-label="India Fix Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The India Fix </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/56120/eco-india" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Eco India Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Eco India </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/latest/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Latest Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The Latest </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/reel/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Reel Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The Reel </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/magazine/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Magazine Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Magazine </a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="//scroll.in/video/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Videoblog Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Video </a> </li> <li class="nav-dropdown-menu nav-trending scroll-navigation-trending has-submenu"> <a href="#" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Trending Clicked from menu" class="ga-track has-flex"> Trending <div class="navigation-icon-container"> <svg width="8.195" height="4.751" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M.185.19A.616.616 0 0 1 .64 0c.17 0 .34.057.454.19l3.013 2.993L7.1.19a.652.652 0 0 1 .909 0 .652.652 0 0 1 0 .909L4.562 4.566a.652.652 0 0 1-.91 0L.185 1.1a.652.652 0 0 1 0-.91Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="nonzero"></path> </svg> </div> </a> <ul class="non-list-items" style="display: none"><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075052/why-india-must-decolonise-the-rigid-naming-format-required-for-official-documents">Why India must decolonise the rigid naming format required for official documents</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/magazine/1076201/in-a-painting-of-jehangirs-turkey-a-glimpse-of-the-complex-history-of-food">In a painting of Jehangir’s turkey, a glimpse of the complex history of food</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075794/kashmir-lithium-mining-plans-put-off-indefinitely-with-no-bidders-expert-criticism">Kashmir: Lithium mining plans put off indefinitely with no bidders, expert criticism</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076214/the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls-haruki-murakamis-novel-is-pre-packaged-for-consumption">‘The City and Its Uncertain Walls’: Haruki Murakami’s novel is pre-packaged for consumption</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076263/ramachandra-guha-why-jasprit-bumrah-looks-set-to-become-indias-finest-bowler-captain-yet">Ramachandra Guha: Why Jasprit Bumrah looks set to become India’s finest bowler-captain yet</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076239/amitav-ghosh-in-this-time-of-monstrous-anomalies-we-must-recognise-that-the-earth-is-judging-us">Amitav Ghosh: In this time of monstrous anomalies, we must recognise that the Earth is judging us</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076229/sunday-book-pick-my-heavenly-favourite-a-novel-about-sexual-grooming-puts-the-reader-in-a-trance">Sunday book pick: ‘My Heavenly Favourite’, a novel about sexual grooming puts the reader in a trance</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076106/status-crimes-are-indian-muslims-being-criminalised-simply-for-being-muslim">‘Status crimes’: Are Indian Muslims being criminalised simply for being Muslim?</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075300/can-camel-milk-make-the-journey-from-arid-deserts-to-indias-chic-urban-patisseries">Can camel milk make the journey from arid deserts to India’s chic urban patisseries?</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076132/december-nonfiction-end-of-the-year-reading-with-six-books-that-offer-a-unique-view-of-being-indian">December nonfiction: End of the year reading with six books that offer a unique view of being Indian</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076136/december-fiction-say-goodbye-to-2024-with-these-six-new-indian-novels-and-short-story-collections">December fiction: Say goodbye to 2024 with these six new Indian novels and short story collections</a> </li><li> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075860/the-arts-need-the-youth-why-two-kolkata-based-entrepreneurs-are-hosting-bengals-first-biennale">‘The arts need the youth’: Why two Kolkata-based entrepreneurs are hosting Bengal’s first Biennale</a> </li></ul> </li> <li class="nav-dropdown-menu nav-sections scroll-navigation-sections has-submenu"> <a href="#" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Sections Clicked from menu" class="ga-track has-flex"> Sections <div class="navigation-icon-container"> <svg width="8.195" height="4.751" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M.185.19A.616.616 0 0 1 .64 0c.17 0 .34.057.454.19l3.013 2.993L7.1.19a.652.652 0 0 1 .909 0 .652.652 0 0 1 0 .909L4.562 4.566a.652.652 0 0 1-.91 0L.185 1.1a.652.652 0 0 1 0-.91Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="nonzero"></path> </svg> </div> </a> <ul class="non-list-items" style="display: none">  <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/76/politics" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Politics</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/107/culture" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Culture</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/105/india" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">India</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/3554/world" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">World</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/3/film-and-tv" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Film and TV</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/4/music" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Music</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/80/books-and-ideas" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Books and Ideas</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/77/business-and-economy" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Business and Economy</a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/category/83/science-and-technology" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Science and Technology</a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/roving/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="In pictures Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> In Pictures </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/announcements/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Section icon clicked" class="ga-track">Announcements</a> </li> <li> <a href="//shop.scroll.in" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Bookshop Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Bookshop </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/field/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Field Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> The Field </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/pulse/" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Pulse Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Pulse </a> </li> <li> <a href="//scroll.in/elections/2024" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Election 2024 Clicked from menu" class="ga-track"> Elections 2024 </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <div id="infoModal"></div> <div class="error-message warning" style="display: none"> <p><i class="fa fa-exclamation-circle"></i><span class="error-message-block"></span></p> </div> <div id="modal-container"></div> <div class="tooltip-container" style="display:none"> <div id="tooltip"></div> </div> <div id="contributeModal"></div> <div id="notification-alert-banner"></div> <div id="GDPRAlertBanner"></div> <div class="main-container " > <div class="below-navigation-banner-wrapper"> <section class="ad-loader"> <div class="circle-border"> <div class="circle-core"></div> </div> <span class="ad-loader-text">Ad</span> </section> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0' class="header-bidding below-navigation-banner"></div> </div> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; window.gptSlots = window.gptSlots || {}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping() .addSize([0, 0], []) .addSize([320, 50], ["fluid", [300, 250]]) .addSize([768, 50], ["fluid", [300, 250]]) .addSize([1050, 250], ["fluid", [300, 250], [970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90]]) .build(); window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0"] = googletag.defineSlot( '/21719278143/scroll-web-all-below-navigation', [[970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], "fluid"], 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0') .defineSizeMapping(mapping) .addService(googletag.companionAds()) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting('refresh', 'true') .setTargeting('refreshcount', '0') .setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(false); googletag.pubads().enableVideoAds(); googletag.enableServices(); if (false) { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(true, true); } else { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); } }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0'); }); </script> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel trending-carousel carousel-is-sticky"> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel-wrapper"> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel-navigators"> <a href="#"> <div class="navigator previous-element-navigator"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="4.9" height="8.8"> <path fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M.2 4.8 4 8.6a.5.5 0 1 0 .8-.7L1.3 4.4 4.8.9A.5.5 0 1 0 4 .2L.2 4l-.2.3v.2c0 .1 0 .2.2.3Z"></path> </svg> </div> </a> <a href="#"> <div class="navigator next-element-navigator is-active"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="4.9" height="8.8"> <path fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M.2 4.8 4 8.6a.5.5 0 1 0 .8-.7L1.3 4.4 4.8.9A.5.5 0 1 0 4 .2L.2 4l-.2.3v.2c0 .1 0 .2.2.3Z"></path> </svg> </div> </a> </div> <div class="sticky-bottom-carousel-content"> <header> <span>OTHERS ARE</span> <h3> Reading <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/notification-bell.f310cc4281baa94bf6880b656db03c3c.003.svg" alt="icon" class="hide-on-dark"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/dm-notification-bell.817f465fce370fcee485dc3b087448f6.003.svg" alt="icon" class="show-on-dark"> </h3> </header> <ul class="sticky-bottom-carousel-content-container" id="cardsWrapper"> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075052/why-india-must-decolonise-the-rigid-naming-format-required-for-official-documents"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204178-lenvdelmrd-1730207740.jpeg" alt="Why India must decolonise the rigid naming format required for official documents"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">1</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Why India must decolonise the rigid naming format required for official documents</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/magazine/1076201/in-a-painting-of-jehangirs-turkey-a-glimpse-of-the-complex-history-of-food"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204591-faippdajkf-1732808305.jpg" alt="In a painting of Jehangir’s turkey, a glimpse of the complex history of food"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">2</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>In a painting of Jehangir’s turkey, a glimpse of the complex history of food</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075794/kashmir-lithium-mining-plans-put-off-indefinitely-with-no-bidders-expert-criticism"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204458-iviogmdemh-1731940595.jpg" alt="Kashmir: Lithium mining plans put off indefinitely with no bidders, expert criticism"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">3</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Kashmir: Lithium mining plans put off indefinitely with no bidders, expert criticism</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076214/the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls-haruki-murakamis-novel-is-pre-packaged-for-consumption"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://d1u4oo4rb13yy8.cloudfront.net/thumbnail/48788-gbcdyfbdyv-1483689759.jpg" alt="‘The City and Its Uncertain Walls’: Haruki Murakami’s novel is pre-packaged for consumption"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">4</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>‘The City and Its Uncertain Walls’: Haruki Murakami’s novel is pre-packaged for consumption</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076263/ramachandra-guha-why-jasprit-bumrah-looks-set-to-become-indias-finest-bowler-captain-yet"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/198130-dpcuqihlfz-1706960982.jpg" alt="Ramachandra Guha: Why Jasprit Bumrah looks set to become India’s finest bowler-captain yet"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">5</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Ramachandra Guha: Why Jasprit Bumrah looks set to become India’s finest bowler-captain yet</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076239/amitav-ghosh-in-this-time-of-monstrous-anomalies-we-must-recognise-that-the-earth-is-judging-us"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/123394-htfslhhcho-1562488496.jpeg" alt="Amitav Ghosh: In this time of monstrous anomalies, we must recognise that the Earth is judging us"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">6</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Amitav Ghosh: In this time of monstrous anomalies, we must recognise that the Earth is judging us</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076229/sunday-book-pick-my-heavenly-favourite-a-novel-about-sexual-grooming-puts-the-reader-in-a-trance"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204599-ycqsiojngl-1732871964.jpg" alt="Sunday book pick: ‘My Heavenly Favourite’, a novel about sexual grooming puts the reader in a trance"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">7</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Sunday book pick: ‘My Heavenly Favourite’, a novel about sexual grooming puts the reader in a trance</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076106/status-crimes-are-indian-muslims-being-criminalised-simply-for-being-muslim"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/138926-tzqpudczcx-1585195580.jpg" alt="‘Status crimes’: Are Indian Muslims being criminalised simply for being Muslim?"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">8</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>‘Status crimes’: Are Indian Muslims being criminalised simply for being Muslim?</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075300/can-camel-milk-make-the-journey-from-arid-deserts-to-indias-chic-urban-patisseries"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204282-bxvprqayfi-1730895551.jpg" alt="Can camel milk make the journey from arid deserts to India’s chic urban patisseries?"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">9</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>Can camel milk make the journey from arid deserts to India’s chic urban patisseries?</p> </div> </a> </li> <li class="sticky-bottom-carousel-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076132/december-nonfiction-end-of-the-year-reading-with-six-books-that-offer-a-unique-view-of-being-indian"> <div class="carousel-card-figure-container"> <figure> <picture> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbnail/204579-lqngnrnpro-1732779176.jpeg" alt="December nonfiction: End of the year reading with six books that offer a unique view of being Indian"> </picture> </figure> <div class="carousel-card-count-container"> <div class="carousel-card-count"> <span class="count">10</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="carousel-card-info-container"> <p>December nonfiction: End of the year reading with six books that offer a unique view of being Indian</p> </div> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="server-articles" class="article-page scroll-article-page">  <article id="article-unique-1075645" data-series-id="0" class="article scroll-article normal-article scroll-in-article" data-seo-title="Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses" data-title="Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses" data-permalink="https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" data-id="1075645" data-cb-authors="Nabarun Guha" data-cb-categories="Scroll.in, India" data-in-viewport="true">  <header> <span class="orange-tag"> <a href="//scroll.in/topic/53482/environment"> Environment </a> </span> <h1>Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses</h1> <h2>Feral horses are free-roaming horses that descended from a domesticated stock. But they have lived in the wild for almost 80 years in Assam’s Dibru Saikhowa.</h2>  <div class="article-meta-container-with-comments"> <div class="article-meta-container"> <address><a href="//scroll.in/author/18056" rel="author" >Nabarun Guha</a></address> <div class="article-time-container"> <time datetime="2024-11-28T19:30:00+05:30" class="article-published-time"> Nov 28, 2024 · 07:30 pm </time> </div> </div> <div class="scroll-app-upsell hideOnApp near-timestamp-scroll-app-upsell"> <div class="sa-content"> <div class="sa-head"> <span>Read in App</span> </div> <div class="sa-cta"> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.scroll.android" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="Android App Upsell clicked from article header"> <svg width="15.063" height="16.953" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m8.826 8.778 2.221 2.21L.737 16.92a.504.504 0 0 1-.071.033l8.16-8.175ZM.06.058 8.343 8.3.02 16.637A.496.496 0 0 1 0 16.494V.294C0 .213.02.132.06.06Zm11.464 6.017 3.29 1.892a.492.492 0 0 1 0 .855l-3.157 1.814-2.351-2.34 2.218-2.221ZM.965 0l9.95 5.724-2.09 2.095L.964 0Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/scroll-in-news/id1313224234" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="iOs App Upsell clicked from article header"> <svg width="13.987" height="17.192" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M11.683 9.143a3.907 3.907 0 0 1 1.86-3.278 4 4 0 0 0-3.15-1.704c-1.327-.139-2.612.794-3.288.794-.688 0-1.728-.78-2.849-.757a4.196 4.196 0 0 0-3.53 2.154C-.803 8.995.336 12.88 1.8 15.017c.732 1.047 1.587 2.216 2.706 2.174 1.095-.045 1.504-.698 2.826-.698 1.31 0 1.693.698 2.835.672 1.175-.02 1.915-1.051 2.622-2.107.525-.746.93-1.57 1.198-2.442a3.775 3.775 0 0 1-2.304-3.473ZM9.526 2.756c.64-.77.956-1.758.88-2.756a3.914 3.914 0 0 0-2.533 1.31 3.66 3.66 0 0 0-.902 2.654 3.236 3.236 0 0 0 2.555-1.208Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </header>   <figure class="featured-image"><picture class="aspect-ratio-placeholder image-width-1200-height-630"><img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/article/204383-ugwsqabpuu-1731584455.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses"> </picture> <figcaption class="featured-image-caption"> Feral horses running in the sandbars (chaporis) in Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Assam. | Hiren Senapati via Mongabay </figcaption> </figure>   <div class="article-content-container">  <section class="article-content scroll-article-content normal-article-content large-6 columns"> <div id="article-contents" class="article-body"> <div class="cms-block cms-block-tracker" data-embed-type="tracker" data-embed-url="http://www.google-analytics.com/collect?v=1&tid=UA-12973256-1&cid=sri&t=event&ea=open&cs=news&cm=&cn=generalcc" data-embed-loaded="false"></div><p>In February 2020, right before the Covid-19 pandemic induced a country-wide lockdown, the Tinsukia Wildlife Division made a major breakthrough. Based on a tip-off, the forest officials apprehended a truck near Makum bypass in the Tinsukia district of Assam which, say the forest officials, was transporting six smuggled feral horses.</p><p>“We caught four people, including two army personnel, with the consignment. Their papers (documents approving the transport of horses) were <a class="link-external" href="https://www.nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/ex-army-personnel-use-forged-documents-to-smuggle-feral-horses-from-dibru-saikhowa-national-park.html#:~:text=Involvement%20of%20ex%2DArmy%20personnel,in%20Upper%20Assam%27s%20Tinsukia%20district" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><u>forged</u></a>. We came to know that the kingpin of this smuggling ring was a high-ranking Indian military officer who gave riding lessons in Guwahati. The horses were procured from Dibru Saikhowa National Park and were kept in an under-construction hospital in Laupoti, Phulbari village in Tinsukia, before being sent off to Guwahati in the truck,” said a forest official on conditions of anonymity. The six horses were later released in Dibru Saikhowa National Park.</p><p>Dibru Saikhowa was declared a reserve forest in 1890 and more than a century later, in 1999, it acquired the status of a National Park. Around 12 km from the town of Tinsukia, Dibru Saikhowa National Park is bound by the mighty Brahmaputra and Siang rivers on the north, Lohit, Dibang and Noa Dihing rivers in the east and Dibru river in the south.</p><p>With an area of 340 square km, the national park is known for its impressive faunal diversity with rare and endangered mammals such as elephants, wild buffaloes, hoolock gibbons and Gangetic river dolphins. Feral horses, however, are one of the most prized inhabitants of the park, as this is the only place in India where they are found.</p><figure class="cms-block cms-block-image has-subtext" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" data-width="4158" data-height="2699" style=""><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"target="_blank"> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/inline/cpyeqbqxhv-1731584151.jpg" alt="" title="Dibru Saikhowa National Park. Credit: Dhruba Jyoti Baruah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons." itemprop="contentUrl" /> </a><figcaption itemprop="caption description">Dibru Saikhowa National Park. Credit: Dhruba Jyoti Baruah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.</figcaption></figure><p>Point Calimere in Tamil Nadu also has a population of wild horses, but feral horses are only found in Dibru Saikhowa.</p><p>The main difference between wild horses and feral horses lies in their ancestry. Unlike feral horses, wild horses haven’t descended from domesticated horses.</p><p>However, without any effective conservation strategies in place, feral horses face threats from smuggling and are also gradually losing grazing grounds and habitat to floods and livestock.</p><h3 class="cms-block cms-block-heading">The origin story</h3><p>Feral horses are free-roaming horses that descended from a domesticated stock. But they have lived in the wild for almost 80 years in Dibru Saikhowa.</p><p>According to a 2021 <a class="link-external" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353351549_Spatial_Distribution_and_Suitable_Habitats_of_Feral_Horses_in_Dibru_Saikhowa_National_Park_cum_Biosphere_Reserve_A_Study_using_Geospatial_Technologies" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><u>study</u></a> published in the <em>Open Journal of Bioresources</em>, “Feral horses mostly prefer grassy river flats, forests and woodlands. They use open areas where predators can be seen from a distance. They are found within a 5km-6-km range of water sources. Some of the areas in Dibru Saikhowa where feral horses are found are Churke Tapu, Arna Tapu, Kathalkuthi near Mieli Camp, Kobu Chapori.”</p><p>There are multiple theories about the origin of the feral horses in the region. The most popular one is that these horses are descendants of the ones used by the Allied forces against the Japanese in World War II. “It is said that the British and American troops left these horses behind after the war ended. The feral horses found here [now] are the third or fourth generation of those horses. However, there is no written record to support this theory,” KN Das, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Tinsukia Wildlife Division, tells Mongabay India.</p><p>The theory is supported by the fact that Tinsukia served as an important battleground on the eastern front during World War II. Ledo, which is around 67km from Dibru Saikhowa, had an airstrip built by the American soldiers, while another nearby town called Margherita had a military hospital to treat the wounded soldiers.</p><p>Shamikhu Changmai, one of the authors of the 2021 study, also supports this theory. “Following the great earthquake in Assam in 1950, the rivers changed course, and many of these feral horses got trapped in Dibru Saikhowa. Now, they are mostly seen in chaporis (sandbars),” he adds.</p><figure class="cms-block cms-block-image has-subtext" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" data-width="1200" data-height="800" style=""><img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/inline/gigjawvbyi-1731584210.jpg" alt="" title="Feral horses on sandbars in Dibru Saikhowa. Credit: Shamikhu Changmai via Mongabay." itemprop="contentUrl" /><figcaption itemprop="caption description">Feral horses on sandbars in Dibru Saikhowa. Credit: Shamikhu Changmai via Mongabay.</figcaption></figure><p>According to noted environmentalist Anwaruddin Choudhury, these horses are descendants of cart horses found in the area in the 1940s. “Horses were used for carrying goods in World War II. These horses mainly belonged to the people from the Bihari community settled in Tinsukia at that time. Some of them went back to their native place after the war, leaving behind the horses which migrated to the nearby forests of Dibru Saikhowa, which was a reserve forest then,” he shares.</p><p>Tourist operator and environmentalist Niranta Gohain, however, refutes the World War theory and claims that these horses are descendants of Przewalski’s horses, considered the only remaining wild horse species in the world. “These Przewalski’s horses travelled from Xinjiang province in China to Tinsukia and settled here. Till now, there has been no study to find the correct lineage of these horses. I demand genetic study of the horses so that their proper origin can be known,” says Gohain.</p><h3 class="cms-block cms-block-heading">Surrounded by threats</h3><p>After the incident in 2020, there have been no reports of organised smuggling of feral horses from Dibru Saikhowa. However, local sources claim that stray smuggling of horses occurs occasionally.</p><p>DFO Das, however, denies these allegations. “During my tenure, I haven’t heard of any smuggling incident of feral horses,” he says.</p><p>Rajendra Bharti, the former DFO, had led the operation that had caught the gang smuggling the feral horses in 2020. He denied comment about the incident, citing it as an ongoing judicial matter.</p><p>On conditions of anonymity, a forest official told <em>Mongabay India</em> that since feral horses are not granted any protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, they are still not considered wild animals. “So, even if we arrest somebody in this regard, it is very difficult to get a conviction,” he says.</p><p>Additionally, there has been no regular census of the horses which makes it challenging to ascertain their conservation status. “As per the last census done seven years ago, Dibru Saikhowa had 400 horses,” says DFO Das.</p><p>Changmai said that as per his field study research, there are 150-200 feral horses in Dibru Saikhowa presently.</p><p>“Annual flood and erosion pose a severe threat to the horses. Every year, quite a few horses are swept away in the floods. Apart from that, various human activities and cattle farms from nearby forest villages degrade their habitat. In fact, domestic cattle are their major grazing competitors. These horses live in herds of three-five individuals and sometimes up to 12-15 individuals. On many occasions, these horses are found near cattle farms known as khuties for grazing and also to lick salt,” he shares.</p><p>Anwaruddin Choudhury claims that the decrease in the tiger population in Dibru Saikhowa has boosted the population of feral horses to some extent. “In the 90s, there were a sizeable number of tigers in Dibru Saikhowa. These feral horses were easy prey for the big cats. Now, there are hardly any tigers in Dibru Saikhowa. So, the number of these horses has increased.”</p><h3 class="cms-block cms-block-heading">Allure of feral horses</h3><p>It can’t be denied that feral horses attract tourists to Dibru Saikhowa, being the only of its kind in India. However, over the years their attraction has dwindled.</p><p>“It is actually a costly affair for tourists to see feral horses. These horses live in secluded sandbars. It takes around a day to reach those places from the main entry point of the park in Guijan. Boats are the only mode of transport and renting a boat costs around Rs 15,000. Moreover, feral horses are shy animals, and there is no guarantee that tourists will get a good look even if they go near those sandbars,” shares Hiren Senapati, a local tourist guide in the area.</p><p>Das clarifies that the feral horses are not the main attractions of Dibru Saikhowa. “We get a lot of birders from across the world. Also, many people just come here to get a feel of the forest,” he says.</p><figure class="cms-block cms-block-image has-subtext" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" data-width="1100" data-height="500" style=""><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"target="_blank"> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/inline/opqiuziwvv-1731584277.jpg" alt="" title="A feral horse is a free-roaming horse of domesticated ancestry, which is what makes it different from a wild horse that does not have domesticated ancestry. Credit: Dhruba Jyoti Baruah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons." itemprop="contentUrl" /> </a><figcaption itemprop="caption description">A feral horse is a free-roaming horse of domesticated ancestry, which is what makes it different from a wild horse that does not have domesticated ancestry. Credit: Dhruba Jyoti Baruah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.</figcaption></figure><p>Changmai, however, feels that tourism at Dibru Saikhowa can benefit from the horses. “However, we need to provide due attention to these animals. Currently, I am doing a study on feral horses funded by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It is a geospatial study of the ecology of these horses. We need proper scientific research on the soil condition and availability of food and water in the habitat of these horses. At the same time, we need to create mass awareness about them so that they are not neglected anymore,” he says.</p><p>Senapati opines that though there may not be much interest in these horses at the moment, they will always remain an important part of the Dibru Saikhowa National Park. He says, “When a herd of these horses gallops across the green meadows with the river Brahmaputra forming the background, few images can rival its beauty.”</p><p>This article was first published on <a class="link-external" href="https://india.mongabay.com/2024/11/the-last-feral-horses-of-india/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Mongabay</em></a>.</p> </div> <div class="scroll-app-upsell hideOnApp below-article-scroll-app-upsell"> <div class="sa-content"> <div class="sa-head"> <img src="https://scroll.in/static/assets/scroll-square-logo.9e100dd6eb50cbf476dd78e0586bb366.003.svg" width="20" height="20" alt="Get the app"> <span>Get the app</span> </div> <div class="sa-cta"> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.scroll.android" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="Android App Upsell clicked from below article"> <span>ANDROID</span> <svg width="15.063" height="16.953" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m8.826 8.778 2.221 2.21L.737 16.92a.504.504 0 0 1-.071.033l8.16-8.175ZM.06.058 8.343 8.3.02 16.637A.496.496 0 0 1 0 16.494V.294C0 .213.02.132.06.06Zm11.464 6.017 3.29 1.892a.492.492 0 0 1 0 .855l-3.157 1.814-2.351-2.34 2.218-2.221ZM.965 0l9.95 5.724-2.09 2.095L.964 0Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/scroll-in-news/id1313224234" class="sa-cta-button sa-cta-mini-button ga-track" data-label="iOS App Upsell clicked from below article"> <span>iOS</span> <svg width="13.987" height="17.192" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M11.683 9.143a3.907 3.907 0 0 1 1.86-3.278 4 4 0 0 0-3.15-1.704c-1.327-.139-2.612.794-3.288.794-.688 0-1.728-.78-2.849-.757a4.196 4.196 0 0 0-3.53 2.154C-.803 8.995.336 12.88 1.8 15.017c.732 1.047 1.587 2.216 2.706 2.174 1.095-.045 1.504-.698 2.826-.698 1.31 0 1.693.698 2.835.672 1.175-.02 1.915-1.051 2.622-2.107.525-.746.93-1.57 1.198-2.442a3.775 3.775 0 0 1-2.304-3.473ZM9.526 2.756c.64-.77.956-1.758.88-2.756a3.914 3.914 0 0 0-2.533 1.31 3.66 3.66 0 0 0-.902 2.654 3.236 3.236 0 0 0 2.555-1.208Z" fill="#000" fill-rule="evenodd"></path> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="contributeBlock"></div> <i class="mail-us-section"> We welcome your comments at <a href="mailto:?Subject=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses&to=letters@scroll.in" target="_blank">letters@scroll.in</a>. </i> <ul class="article-tags-list"><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Assam" class="tag-menu"> Assam </a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Dibru-Saikhowa-National-Park" class="tag-menu"> Dibru Saikhowa National Park </a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Wild-Horses" class="tag-menu"> Wild Horses </a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Feral-Horses" class="tag-menu"> Feral Horses </a> </li><li> <a href="//scroll.in/tag/Wildlife-Conservation" class="tag-menu"> Wildlife Conservation </a> </li></ul> <div class="below-article-share-block no-comment"> <ul class="article-share-sheet show-for-large"> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-whatsapp show-for-small-only"> <a href="whatsapp://send?text=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses%0A%0Ahttps://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Whatsapp share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fab fa-whatsapp"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-facebook"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Facebook share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-facebook fab fa-facebook-f"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses&url=https%3A//scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses&via=scroll_in" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Twitter share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-twitter fab fa-twitter"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-email"> <a href="mailto:?Subject=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses&body=https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Email share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-email fas fa-envelope"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-reddit"> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses&title=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Reddit share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-google fab fa-reddit-alien"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-print show-for-large"> <a href="/article/print/1075645" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Print button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fas fa-print"></i> </a> </li> </ul> </div>   <div class="share-bar-mobile fixedsticky hide-for-large"> <div class="tablet-width-container">    <ul class="article-share-sheet"> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-whatsapp show-for-small-only"> <a href="whatsapp://send?text=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses%0A%0Ahttps://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Whatsapp share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fab fa-whatsapp"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-facebook"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Facebook share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-facebook fab fa-facebook-f"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses&url=https%3A//scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses&via=scroll_in" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Twitter share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-twitter fab fa-twitter"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-email"> <a href="mailto:?Subject=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses&body=https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Email share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-email fas fa-envelope"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-reddit"> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://scroll.in/article/1075645/smuggling-floods-urbanisation-threaten-indias-only-remaining-feral-horses&title=Smuggling%2C%20floods%2C%20urbanisation%20threaten%20India%E2%80%99s%20only%20remaining%20feral%20horses" target="new" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Reddit share button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-google fab fa-reddit-alien"></i> </a> </li> <li class="article-share-link article-share-link-print show-for-large"> <a href="/article/print/1075645" target="_blank" data-category="Mobile" data-label="Print button clicked" class="ga-track"> <i class="icon icon-print fas fa-print"></i> </a> </li> </ul>  </div>  </div> </section>  <aside class="article-recommended-list-container large-3 columns" id="recommendedArticlesBar"> <div class="article-related"> <h3>Related</h3> <div class="card related-card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075243/climate-change-and-neglect-put-butterflies-on-the-brink-of-extinction-in-south-asia" data-label="Clicked from related article section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204259-swejrxafpg-1730741329.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Climate change and neglect put butterflies on the brink of extinction in South Asia"> </figure> <h4>Climate change and neglect put butterflies on the brink of extinction in South Asia</h4> </a> </div> </div> <div class="card-container-parent"> <h3>Trending</h3> <div class="article-recommended-list"> <ol class="cards-container"> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075052/why-india-must-decolonise-the-rigid-naming-format-required-for-official-documents" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204178-lenvdelmrd-1730207740.jpeg" loading="lazy" alt="Why India must decolonise the rigid naming format required for official documents"> </figure> <h4>Why India must decolonise the rigid naming format required for official documents</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/magazine/1076201/in-a-painting-of-jehangirs-turkey-a-glimpse-of-the-complex-history-of-food" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204591-faippdajkf-1732808305.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="In a painting of Jehangir’s turkey, a glimpse of the complex history of food"> </figure> <h4>In a painting of Jehangir’s turkey, a glimpse of the complex history of food</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1075794/kashmir-lithium-mining-plans-put-off-indefinitely-with-no-bidders-expert-criticism" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/204458-iviogmdemh-1731940595.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Kashmir: Lithium mining plans put off indefinitely with no bidders, expert criticism"> </figure> <h4>Kashmir: Lithium mining plans put off indefinitely with no bidders, expert criticism</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076214/the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls-haruki-murakamis-novel-is-pre-packaged-for-consumption" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://d1u4oo4rb13yy8.cloudfront.net/facebook/48788-gbcdyfbdyv-1483689759.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="‘The City and Its Uncertain Walls’: Haruki Murakami’s novel is pre-packaged for consumption"> </figure> <h4>‘The City and Its Uncertain Walls’: Haruki Murakami’s novel is pre-packaged for consumption</h4> </a> </li> <li class="card"> <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1076263/ramachandra-guha-why-jasprit-bumrah-looks-set-to-become-indias-finest-bowler-captain-yet" data-label="Clicked from Trending section of article page" class="ga-track"> <figure> <img src="https://sc0.blr1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/book/198130-dpcuqihlfz-1706960982.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Ramachandra Guha: Why Jasprit Bumrah looks set to become India’s finest bowler-captain yet"> </figure> <h4>Ramachandra Guha: Why Jasprit Bumrah looks set to become India’s finest bowler-captain yet</h4> </a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </aside>  </div>  </article> </div> <div id="vue-articles"></div> </div>  <div id="bottomStickyWrapper" class="bottom-sticky-banner-wrapper engagement-bar hide hideOnApp hide-for-large" > <section class="ad-loader"> <div class="circle-border"> <div class="circle-core"></div> </div> <span class="ad-loader-text">Ad</span> </section> <div id="div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3" class="header-bidding bottom-sticky-banner"></div> </div> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; window.gptSlots = window.gptSlots || {}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping() .addSize([0, 0], []) .addSize([320, 50], [[320, 50]]) .addSize([768, 50], []) .addSize([1050, 250], []) .build(); window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3"] = googletag.defineSlot( '/21719278143/scroll-web-all-bottom-sticky', [[320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3') .defineSizeMapping(mapping) .addService(googletag.companionAds()) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting('refresh', 'true') .setTargeting('refreshcount', '0') .setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(false); googletag.pubads().enableVideoAds(); googletag.enableServices(); if (true) { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(true, true); } else { window.gptSlots["div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3"].setCollapseEmptyDiv(false); } }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3'); }); </script> <div id="search-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> var PWT = {}; //Initialize Namespace var notifyId; var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; var gptRan = false; var loadGPT = function() { if (!gptRan) { gptRan = true; var gads = document.createElement('script'); var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); } } // Failsafe to call gpt. setTimeout(loadGPT, 1000); PWT.jsLoaded = function(){ //PubMatic pwt.js on load callback is used to load GPT loadGPT(); }; (function() { var purl = window.location.href; var url = `//ads.pubmatic.com/AdServer/js/pwt/159549/2471`; var profileVersionId = ''; if(purl.indexOf('pwtv=')>0){ var regexp = /pwtv=(.*?)(&|$)/g; var matches = regexp.exec(purl); if(matches.length >= 2 && matches[1].length > 0){ profileVersionId = '/'+matches[1]; } } var wtads = document.createElement('script'); wtads.async = true; wtads.type = 'text/javascript'; wtads.src = url+profileVersionId+'/pwt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(wtads, node); })(); </script> <script> !function(a9,a,p,s,t,A,g){if(a[a9])return;function q(c,r){a[a9]._Q.push([c,r])}a[a9]={init:function(){q("i",arguments)},fetchBids:function(){q("f",arguments)},setDisplayBids:function(){},_Q:[]};A=p.createElement(s);A.async=!0;A.src=t;g=p.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];g.parentNode.insertBefore(A,g)}("apstag",window,document,"script","//c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"); apstag.init({ pubID: '0835b91a-5d46-4392-b08d-7f2a8466259b', adServer: 'googletag', simplerGPT: true }); googletag.cmd.push(function(){ // TODO: Make ad unit ids dynamic notifyId = window.OWT.registerExternalBidders(['div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0', 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-1', 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-2', 'div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3']); // Notifies OpenWrap that there are some external bidders for which it has to wait before calling GAM. apstag.fetchBids( { timeout: 2e3 }, function(bids) { apstag.setDisplayBids(); window.OWT.notifyExternalBiddingComplete(notifyId); } ); }); </script> <script> (function() { var _Scroll = window._Scroll || {}; _Scroll.siteLang = "en"; _Scroll.baseLink = '//scroll.in'; _Scroll.currentName = 'scroll'; _Scroll.isBrand = ''; _Scroll.months = ['January', 'February', 'March', 'April', 'May', 'June', 'July', 'August', 'September', 'October', 'November', 'December']; _Scroll.weekdays = ['Sunday', 'Monday', 'Tuesday', 'Wednesday', 'Thursday', 'Friday', 'Saturday']; _Scroll.timelines = ['Today', 'Yesterday']; _Scroll.quantifiers = ['ago', 'seconds', 'minute', 'minutes', 'hour', 'hours', 'day', 'days', 'month', 'months', 'year', 'years', 'a', 'an' ]; _Scroll.subscribed = false; _Scroll.userGroups = {"expired": "expired", "registered": "registered", "subscriber": "subscriber", "unverified": "unverified"}; _Scroll.subscriptions_enabled = false; _Scroll.isCanvasShown = false; _Scroll.comments_enabled = false; _Scroll.showBannerAds = true; _Scroll.adx = {"canvas_enabled": false, "enabled": true, "openwrap": {"amp_profile_id": "2477", "enabled": true, "pub_id": "159549", "web_profile_id": "2471"}, "out_of_page": {"in_article": {"div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-oop-in-article", "mapping": [1, 1], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-oop-in-article"}}, "slots": {"below_navigation": {"amp_slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-amp-all-below-navigation", "div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-0", "mapping": [[], ["fluid", [300, 250]], ["fluid", [300, 250]], ["fluid", [300, 250], [970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90]]], "sizes": [[970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [300, 250], [320, 50], "fluid"], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-below-navigation"}, "bottom_sticky": {"amp_slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-amp-all-bottom-sticky", "div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-3", "mapping": [[], [[320, 50]], [], []], "sizes": [[320, 50]], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-bottom-sticky"}, "in_article": {"amp_slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-amp-all-in-article", "div_id": "div-gpt-ad-1530701734090-2", "mapping": [[], ["fluid", [300, 250], [430, 430], [1, 1]], ["fluid", [300, 250], [430, 430], [1, 1]], ["fluid", [300, 250], [970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [1440, 520], [1, 1]]], "sizes": [[970, 250], [728, 90], [970, 90], [300, 250], [430, 430], [1440, 520], [1, 1], "fluid"], "slot_id": "/21719278143/scroll-web-all-in-article"}}}; _Scroll.gonativeApp = false; _Scroll.articleFeed = 'series'; _Scroll.seriesTitle = 'Scroll.in'; _Scroll.gaId = 'G-G1T78Y8E5C'; _Scroll.publication = 'scroll'; _Scroll.electionWidgetArticles = {"1075969": {"chart_id": 23, "limit": 288, "source": "ECI/media reports"}, "1075986": {"chart_id": 24, "limit": 81, "source": "ECI/media reports"}}; _Scroll.experimentMap = {"membership_exp_international_5_subscription": {"base": [2, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 18, 20], "variant": []}} window._Scroll = _Scroll; })(); </script> <script> (function() { var _Scroll = window._Scroll || {}; _Scroll.lastArticleId = 1075645; _Scroll.seriesId = 0; _Scroll.categoryIds = [105]; _Scroll.templateMap = {'normal': [1, 11], 'thin': [2, 3, 4], 'pollable': [10], 'audio': [5], 'deal': [9], 'recipe': [12]}; _Scroll.notShowingCoverFor = [3, 4]; _Scroll.load_bulletin = true;_Scroll.isFromHomePage = false; window._Scroll = _Scroll; })(); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@id": "https://scroll.in/category/105/india", "name": "India" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@id": "https://scroll.in/topic/53482/environment", "name": "Environment" } }] } </script> <script crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.4.1/jquery.min.js"></script> <script crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/vue/2.5.17/vue.min.js"></script><script src="https://scroll.in/static/js/common.7b345f785509c837b7c8.003.js"></script> <script src="https://scroll.in/static/js/article.b7b1684787415a7b40c9.003.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Smuggling, floods, urbanisation threaten India’s only remaining feral horses