Guwahati, June 7 -- Reported by Roopak Goswami

Guwahati: Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve on Sunday launched Assam's first dedicated grass nursery and released 15 captive-bred pygmy hogs into the wild, marking a major conservation push as the UNESCO World Heritage Site grapples with the loss of more than 60 per cent of its historical grassland cover.

The twin initiatives, along with the induction of five newly trained camp elephants into conservation service, underscored the reserve's efforts to restore critical habitats and strengthen wildlife protection across one of India's most important biodiversity landscapes.

The state's first grass nursery was inaugurated at the Bansbari Range by Vinay Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of...