GUWAHATI, Dec 5 � The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) close to Panbari Reserve Forest completed its 10th�anniversary this year, having attended to more than 3,000 of around 150 species wild animals in distress, treating a large number of major cases since 2002.
�Ten years of CWRC is a great moment for all of us. However, that does not mean that our work here is done. It is an occasion for us to recommit ourselves for the wildlife of Assam. We assure that we will continue to support our common cause here,� said Ian Robinson, Director of Animal Rescue International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
Among the Centre�s achievements is ensuring that all displaced wild rhino calves from Kaziranga National Park are returned to the wild, starting the rhino reintroduction in formerly threatened Manas National Park.
The CWRC will help bring in international expertise to Assam, and likewise take the lessons from Assam to the outside world to benefit wildlife in all areas that we work in, Robinson added.
CWRC has so far rehabilitated 75 per cent of the displaced elephant calves in Kaziranga back to the wild in across Assam. Overall, the centre and its subsidiaries have a success rate of more than 60 per cent saving more than 1,600 individual animal lives, including two pairs of extremely rare clouded leopard cubs, stated a press note.
Run by the Assam Forest Department and International Fund for Animal Welfare � Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI), CWRC was established in August 2002, making it the first wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre near a protected area in the country. In Assam the outreach is facilitated by its fully-equipped Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) units including one in Diphu supported by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, and a CWRC Transit Home in Kokrajhar.
Rockybul Hussain, Assam Forest Minister, in his message on the occasion said: �In our state, flood is natural phenomenon and happens every year. After we lost many animals in 1998 flood, the Government of Assam decided to have a facility to rescue and treat injured and stranded wildlife in Kaziranga. I am very grateful that WTI and its partner IFAW joined hands with the Government of Assam to set up CWRC � a first of its kind facility in the whole country.�
