GUWAHATI, March 19 � The Prabhakar Barua Rhino Conservation Trust, set up in the memory of the first Assamese Chief Conservator of Forests of undivided Assam, has instituted two awards to honour brave-hearts and community leaders in recognition of their exemplary acts in the field of conservation.
The Prabhakar Barua �Gor Surakhya Veer Puraskar� is in recognition of exemplary acts done by an individual for protection and conservation of rhinoceros demonstrating extra efforts beyond the scope of their official duty.
The Prabhakar Barua �Gor Surakhya Sachetak Puraskar� award will be given to an individual of the communities residing in the vicinity of the rhino-bearing areas in recognition of their leadership role and exemplary work done in mobilising communities for the protection and conservation of rhinoceros, for protection of straying rhinos and for providing any information about the activities of poachers.
Shiela Bora of the trust said that the awards would be confined to activities in the four rhino habitats of the State, i.e., Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Orang National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
The awards will be presented to the winners on the last day of Wildlife Week on October 7.
Nomination forms can be obtained from directors of Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Orang National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary besides conservation NGOs Aaranyak, Nature�s Beckon and the trust office at Krishnanagar, Chandmari. Completed nomination form must be received latest by midnight on May 30.
The trust has been established with the aim of recognizing outstanding service provided by individuals in the field of protection and conservation of the Great One Horned Rhinoceros of Assam.
�It is felt that national recognition of the outstanding rhino conservation and protection efforts by individuals at the grassroots level have remained unsung. The trust aims not only at providing such individuals an additional impetus by awarding them in recognition of their deeds but also promoting the spread of awareness in the rhino habitats about the importance of saving the one horned rhinoceros,� Bora said.
