Guwahati, Feb 4: A large group high school students from fringe areas participated in the fifth consecutive annual Orang Nature Camp organised during January 30 to February 2 in Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve (ONP&TR) in Assam under the aegis of Aaranyak and Orang Tiger Reserve Authority in collaboration with local organisation Wild Wings and with support from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF).
The four-day residential awareness programme held amid the natural setting of (ONP&TR) which is home to precious tiger and one-horned rhinos besides varied other species, acquainted the participating students with importance and significance of nature conservation.
This platform also facilitated the students to interact with experts working in the field of nature and wildlife conservation who, through their presentations and talks strived to encourage students to make it a part of their life to work for the betterment of Orang Tiger Reserve in their vicinity and the nature as a whole.
The programme was inaugurated on January 30 by Pradipta Baruah, Director of Orang Tiger Reserve in presence of Dr. Debo Kumar Dutta, Senior scientist and Deputy Director of Rhino Research and Conservation Division (RRCD) of Aaranyak; Bijay Sankar Bora, Publicity Secretary of Aaranyak; Swapan Nath, conservationist from Kaziranga; Nejib Ahmed of Wild Wings and Arif Hussain, Senior Manager of RRCD, Aaranyak.
Pradipta Baruah during his interaction with the students, highlighted importance of Orang’s rich biodiversity and emphasised the role of future generation in preservation of these resources.
Dr. Debo Kumar Dutta and Bijay Sankar Bora spoke about the significant roles the students can play to compliment the conservation efforts. Arif Hussain, the key official from Aaranyak behind this camp, stated the goal and objective of the nature camp elaborately in the inaugural programme.
Thirty-three students and three teachers from seven schools namely, Sialmari High School, Bechimari ME School, Keramot Ali, ME School, Dokhin Borsola High School, Ballav Bhai Higher Secondary, Fatasimolu ME School and Royal Brilliant Academy, participated in this awareness programme.
The resource persons attending the programme included Pradipta Baruah, Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Executive Director & Secretary General, Aaranyak’s senior scientists Abdul Wakid and Dr. Deba Kumar Dutta; Swapan Nath, Nejib Ahmed, Arif Hussain, senior Aaranyak officials Dr. Dipankar Lahkar and Arup Kumar Das; researchers of Aaranyak Rabiya Daimari, Gayatri Dutta, Kaushik Rajbongshi, Hirak Jyoti Das and Pranjit Deka, Forester Grade I delivered valuable lectures on various awareness and conservation topics that have benefitted the students. The programme was enriched by enlightening power point presentations, environmental games, group presentation, nature trail and park safari and conservation drama.
All the student participants were given kits, education materials and certificates on conclusion of the nature camp.
Baharul Islam, President, Fatasimolu EDC, Khairul Basher, local conservationist, and Aaranyak staff Gaura Baidya, Aaranyak members Samim Sultana, Sayanika Phukan, Akash Morang were present and extended their expertise towards the success of the event.
The student participants were accompanied by Bimal Chandra Das, Khojasing Teron, Basitan Nessa, Teachers of Borsola High School, Ballav Bhai Higher Secondary and Royal Brilliant Academy in the programme.
