GUWAHATI: Biodiversity conservation and research organisation, Aaranyak, on Monday provided an anti-poaching speed boat to Rajiv Gandhi (Orang) National Park to augment the vigil in the about 79 sq. km wildlife habitat.
The speed boat with 18 BhP for Orang National Park which is located on North Bank of Brahmaputra River, has been sponsored by Zoo Basel, Switzerland in association with International Rhino Foundation and Aaranyak.
The speed-boat was handed over to Orang National Park authority by the Secretary General and CEO of Aaranyak, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar who is also Asia Coordinator of International Rhino Foundation.
The Rajiv Gandhi (Orang) National Park and is located approximately 140 km from Guwahati in the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam. The Park is spread across an area of 79 sq. km. Orang National Park’s Landscape is made up of streams, marshes and grasslands and is also described as mini-Kaziranga. It is known for its population of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Aaranyak has so far provided three more such boat camps to Kaziranga National Park in Assam. One motor boat was given to Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary on September 1, 2018. We had provided another wooden boat to Pabitora Sanctuary almost ten years back.
Two of boat camps provided in Kaziranga National Park was sponsored by the DSWF while the third one was sponsored by Atila in association with NABU International based in Germany.
Protecting wildlife in Assam, becomes much more challenging and fraught with danger during the monsoon season when flood water inundates major parts of wildlife protection areas. During such a situation patrolling especially during the night, becomes an arduous task. Anti-poaching boat camps becomes essential during the flood season for the wildlife personnel to guard over the flood-hit protected areas in Kaziranga National Park, Pabitora Wildlife sanctuaries and Orang National Park.
These anti-poaching boats act as deterrent for poachers during the crisis situation in flood time. Assam forest department needs more such motor boats to add teeth to wildlife protection apparatus, a forest official said.
Wildlife personnel equipped with search lights and arms make use of anti-poaching boat camps during flood time both round the clock.