GUWAHATI: Assam’s Minister for Environment and Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya today stated that the 33 additional highlands that were constructed in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) had been of great help during the current flood fury this year.
Participating in a webinar on “Rescue Operation of Wildlife in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve during floods” organised by the Regional Director’s office of the PIB here, the Forest Minister said the forest staff in the flood-affected KNPTR were faced with two challenging tasks during the flood – to rescue and guard over flood-hit animals as well as keeping the poachers at bay.
The minister said that equipped with 300 country boats, 24 motor boats, the forest personnel in the flood-affected National Park were engaged in round-the -clock duty. He also informed that more artificial highlands would be constructed in the national park next year as fund would be made available for that.
The minister said that the department was getting full support from the state and central government especially Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment and Forest who constantly keeps tab on Kaziranga situation.
Ramesh Gogoi, DFO of the KNPTR informed that the forest department was getting adequate support not only from the Government but also from many National and International NGOs and local people.
Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, CEO of the Aaranyak, a prominent biodiversity conservation and research organisation underlined the importance of Karbi Anglong landscape for animals of the Kaziranga National Park especially during flood as a natural highland.
He said conservation of Karbi Anglong hills was of very much importance to secure future of Kaziranga National Park as during the flood, animals from the park migrate to the foothills of Karbi Anglong. He requested the government to control any developmental activities at Karbi Anglong foothills nearby close to the national park by adopting a landscape conservation policy comprising KNPTR and Kari Anglong hills areas.
Uttam Saikia, Honorary Wildlife Warden flagged the importance of community awareness on wildlife rescue. He spoke about the awareness programmes conducted in the nearby villages for saving and rescuing the animals.
Dr. Rathin Barman, Joint Director, Wildlife Trust of India spoke on wildlife rescue scenario during flood in Kaziranga and said that support they are getting from the community in rescue operation had been enormous.
Rabindra Sarma, Research Officer, Kaziranga National Park said that during floods the animals, in addition to the Karbi Anglong foothills, also move to the nearby tea garden areas for shelter. Referring to the movement of animals to the nearby tea garden areas, Sarma said that the people of the nearby tea gardens should be oriented more for providing the necessary support to the staff of the Forest Department for the protection of the wild animals.