Extempore, quiz mark Wildlife Week celebrations

TURA: Extempore speech, quiz competition were some of the programmes organised on Friday at SMELC Building in Dakopgre to mark the Wildlife Week 2018.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, P R Marak, Conservator of Forest, Wild Life and Territorial, Garo Hills region called upon the people of the region to protect and preserve the environment as well the wildlife in these habitats.
Stating that massive degradation of natural resources, forest and wildlife are taking place in the region, it is the concern and responsibility of every citizen to protect and balance the eco-system and food chain in the region, he said.
Delivering her keynote address, N R D Marak, Divisional Forest Officer, East and West Garo Hills Wild Life Division, Tura highlighted the importance of organising this programme which aims to motivate and generate interest of wildlife preservation and conservation among students in the region through various awareness programmes.
Mentioning the activities of some children who are using sling slots or catapults for hunting small bird in the vicinity, she reminded that these activities though ignorable in nature can lead to destruction of the population of those birds in the area.
Referring to the theme, “ Big Cats, Predators under Threat”, she said that top predators comprising of tiger, lion, jaguar and leopard are dwindling, adding that about 95 per cent of tigers have disappeared in the past ten years and at present there are about 3090 tigers in the world and from these 2225 tigers are in India. S
pecial attention needs to be given to big cats and their other species to protect them and contribute to their conservation in future, she added.