GUWAHATI, May 7 � Aaranyak, a conservation NGO of the North-east in collaboration with the UK-based The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation handed over to Kaziranga National Park authorities field equipment at a function held at Kohora recently.
The equipment included 50 wireless handsets, ten wireless-fixed stations along with accessories and 500 raincoats for frontline anti-poaching staff of Kaziranga. The function was attended by the director Kaziranga, Suren Buragohain, DFO of Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, DD Gogoi, ACF, Range Officers and other forest officials of Kaziranga.
Buragohain appreciated the assistance being provided by Aaranyak to enhance the wireless communication network in the park and also thanked the organisation for joining hands with the department in carrying out a robust and scientific tiger monitoring within Kaziranga National Park using camera traps and other monitoring mechanism.
He expressed his satisfaction at the recent progress being made in tiger density estimation in Kaziranga which proves to be the highest tiger density in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, secretary general of Aaranyak mentioned that in 2003 the wireless communication network project was launched by Aaranyak and The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation in association with the Assam Forest Department for Kaziranga National Park and since then so far 230 wireless handsets, 53 wireless-fixed stations, 45 solar panels to charge the batteries of the wireless sets, two anti-poaching floating boat camps were provided to the Kaziranga National Park authorities to enhance the protection of threatened species in the park. He also appreciated the continued support being extended by the UK-based The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation towards enhancing conservation and protection of wildlife in Assam through Aaranyak.
DD Gogoi, the divisional forest officer of the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division has mentioned that the wireless equipment and raincoats have reached the field on time just before the onset of the monsoon to strengthen communication and patrol.
He lauded the joint initiatives of forest department and Aaranyak delivering credible scientific output based on the two years of tiger monitoring research work being carried out in Kaziranga National Park.
