GUWAHATI: Wildlife policing in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) receives a shot in the arm on Thursday with International Rhino Foundation (IRF) providing two brand new four-wheel drive (4WD) Mahindra Thar vehicles at a function held at the Bagori Range of the national Park.
The IRF has provided the much needed utility vehicles to the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) authority through its local partner in conservation efforts, Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation and research organisation..
The Secretary General and the CEO of Aaranyak and the Asia Coordinator of the IRF, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar handed over the vehicles to the Director of the KNP, Akashdeep Barua who has expressed his gratitude to IRF-Aaranyak for their gesture to impart a boost to the protection apparatus in the national park that is known for its Big Fives – Indian One-horned rhino, Asian elephants, Asian buffalo, Royal Bengal Tiger and the swamp deer.
The vehicles were handed over in presence of a group of senior forest and wildlife officials including the DFOs of East Assam Wildlife Division and Bishwanath Division, four Assistant Conservator of Forests of the KNP and two of the Range Officers of the KNP.
Dr Talukdar informed that the IRF-Aaranyak had provided another brand new Maruti Gypsy to the KNP authority on March 5 last. Aaranyak in collaboration of various donor agencies and with support from the authority of Kaziranga National Park and Assam Forest Department have facilitating various equipment, vehicles etc., to boost wildlife conservation efforts in the national park that is home to over 2000 one-horned Indian rhinoceros besides various other species of animals.
The CEO of Aaranyak informed that the bio-diversity conservation and research organisation has facilitated three four-wheel vehicles in KNP, one motor boat each in KNP, Orang National Park and Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary so far during the current financial year with support from prominent donor organisations.