Tura: In a bid to raise awareness about the shrinking space for wild elephants in the country and the state in particular, Home Minister James P K Sangma launched and flagged off the Gaj Yatra in Garo Hills in the presence of MLA South Tura, Agatha K Sangma, Brand Ambassador, Wildlife Trust of India, Dia Mirza and other distinguished dignitaries on Monday at SMELC Building Dakopgre, Tura.
The programme was an initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Wildlife Trust of India which was organised by the Wildlife Trust of India in collaboration with the State Forest Department.
It may be mentioned that the Gaj Yatra is a journey celebrating India’s National Heritage Animal which is being organised to create awareness and to inculcate the importance of Elephant Conservation and protect the country’s 101 identified and mapped elephant corridors. The four-day Gaj Yatra started from Monday and will move the elephant mascot to Williamnagar on Tuesday via Siju, Rongara and will culminate in Baghmara, South Garo Hills district on June 1.
Speaking on the occasion James K Sangma lauded the organisers for this noble initiative and expressed that he had gained more information about the objectives of the Gaj Yatra and the importance of the protection of the National Heritage Animal. Terming the conservation mission to protect the elephants as crucial he reiterated that school children are the most important stakeholders for preserving our environment and maintain the ecosystem of the region. “There had been 14700 man animal conflicts in the past which may have occurred due to space constraint and less quantity of food available in the region”, he informed.
He further expressed his respect for the Brand Ambassador Dia Mirza for her presence and enthusiasm for conserving the national heritage animal and their habitat in the region.
While addressing the gathering Agatha Sangma said that humans and elephants have co-existed in Garo Hills for ages, however, as time has passed the people have taken over more and more land and the elephant including other animals have lost their habitat.
“This may perhaps be the reason why they behave unnaturally and come into conflict with man”, she added. F
Noted actor, filmmaker and brand ambassador of Wildlife Trust of India, Dia Mirza, said that growing resource needs of the human population have led to the destruction and fragmentation of wild habitats across the country, depleting the area available for elephants to roam and causing the loss of their traditional migratory paths.
“Therefore, the need for conservation of the pachyderm and their habitat arises” and added that elephants are considered as the gardeners of the forest since when they move they rejuvenate the nature.
