Overview

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the inaugural grassland bird census on his July 27 Mann Ki Baat broadcast, noting identification of over 40 species through AI-driven acoustic monitoring without disturbing wildlife.
• Between March 18 and May 25, researchers surveyed 185 grassland sites in Kaziranga National Park using passive acoustic recorders and AI software to catalogue 43 bird species, including critically endangered and vulnerable birds.
• Ornithologists hailed the results as proof of preserved habitats in Kaziranga, underscoring the importance of science-based surveys for tracking biodiversity given historical losses of up to 70 per cent of Assam’s grasslands.
• On July 28, the Assam BJP officially commended the Prime Minister’s recognition of Kaziranga’s biodiversity, spotlighting Assam’s ecological heritage at the national level.
• Environment Ministry working with park authorities pledged long-term ecological monitoring, strengthened grassland protection measures alongside community engagement programs.