GUWAHATI, Jan 10 � To keep a watchful eye on the activities around the Kaziranga National Park, the State Forest Department is going to introduce �electronic eye� � a new surveillance system in the lines of the close-circuit cameras.
Announcing this today, the State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that the system would help in nabbing the poachers and guarding the National Park area. Initially, the system would be introduced in the 430-square kilometre area of the KNP.
�The department is conducting a study on the use and success of this surveillance system in the other parts of the country. Depending on the success of the �electronic eye� in Kaziranga, we might consider about introducing it in other forest areas of the State,� said Hussain addressing the media.
In another development, the white tiger, Khushi, gave birth to three healthy cubs on January 5, this year in the Assam State Zoo. The white tiger couple, Khushi and Hitesh, was brought to the zoo from Nandan Kanan of Orissa under the zoo animal exchange programme in August, 2011.
�Considering the nature of the animal, the zoo authorities kept Khushi in a separate enclosure during the gestation period. Every care is taken to protect the newborns,� he added.
A meeting of the governing body of Tiger Conservation Foundation was also held this morning to discuss the various problems and possible solutions of Kaziranga, Manas and Nameri tiger reserves. Regarding the leopard that caused panic in the Silpukhuri area of the city, the Minister said that it has been taken to Bahbari area of Manas National Park.
The Assam Forest Department and the WWF-India today conferred the Vanyaprani Mitra Award to Salim Ahmed, Forest Range Officer of Orang National Park and the team of Ganga Bora, Rustam Timu and Bhupen Hazarika from the KNP for their contribution towards preserving the forest and the wildlife.
