Guwahati, Oct 2: Football is a sport that is close to the heart of masses in this part of the country and a game of football wherever it is held, may be in the remotest corner, in the Northeast region do wonders for strengthening intra-community bonding and wins heart of the masses.
So, why not this popular sport can be utilised to win the vital community support for rhino conservation – the idea has been lapped up by the premier biodiversity conservation non-profit organisation Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) to woo the community support for conservation of one-horned India rhino in Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), which is known for the highest rhino density on the planet with over 100 rhinos thriving in just over 16 square kilometers core area of the sanctuary that is flanked by populous human settlements.
Aaranyak in collaboration with the Murkata Ankuran Youth Club of Morigaon district of Assam organised a two-day footballing event on Sunday and Monday to spread rhino conservation message among masses living close to Pobitora rhino habitat.
The football tournament was participated by 20 football clubs from the area to flag the need for rhino conservation in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and promote rhino-oriented eco-tourism in the area for the benefit of local entrepreneurs.
The 34-year-old Aaranyak lauds the constant support the villagers around Pobitora WLS have been extending since recognition of Pobitora as a WLS. There has been no rhino poaching incident in Pobitora WLS for over eight years.
“Aaranyak also appreciates the contributions of all frontline forest staffs of Pobitora WLS and Morigaon police to keep Pobitora safe from rhino-hunting syndicates,” said the Secretary General and CEO of Aaranyak Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, a globally acclaimed rhino conservation expert.
During the inauguration ceremony of the football tourney on Sunday, Jayanta Kumar Pathak, Senior conservationist of Aaranyak, underscored the pivotal role of the local community in successful rhino conservation. He hailed the local community for their selfless contribution towards protecting rhinos in Pobitora WLS. He also underscored the huge potential of responsible ecotourism through protecting rhino in this area and said the youth should take lead in this venture.
Dipak Bhattacharjya, Head of Operation of Aaranyak started the event by cutting a ribbon. Aaranyak also displayed different IEC materials to create mass awareness on rhino conservation with active involvement ofc team members Pranjal Deka and Ujjal Bayon.