KAZIRANGA, Sept 22 - The World Rhino Day was celebrated in Parmananda Lahon memorial auditorium at Forest Convention Centre here today following all Covid-19 protocol. The Discussion was initiated by Director of Kaziranga National Park cum Tiger Reserve P Siva Kumar. The day was marked with official telecast of Save This Rhino � India, a documentary in the National Geographic Channel which was presented by cricketer-turned conservationist Kevin Pietersen.
The event was attended by Golaghat Deputy Commissioner Bibhas Modi, DIG of Police Satyajit Hazarika and Superintendent of Golaghat Police Pushpa Raj Singh. The students of forest department employees who secured good percentage in the last HSLC and Higher Secondary examinations, along with winners of essay and photography competitions, were given prizes.
Siva Kumar while initiating interaction during panel discussion said that ensuring better habitat space and good connectivity were vital for optimum conservation and protection of rhinos and other wildlife in Kaziranga National Park. He said some 20 to 30 years back, space available for each rhino and other wildlife was good enough for their grazing as well as other activities but now with the ever increasing wildlife population in Kaziranga, including rhinos there is a demand for more and more space for better survival of wildlife, which could not be met overnight. It was vital to ensure better connectivity to the foothills of Karbi Anglong on the southern side of Kaziranga National Park and Nameri and Orang forest on the northern side of Brahmaputra river.
Emphasising on building communication bridges to narrow down the gap between local people and forest people, Divisional Forest Officer of Eastern Assam Wildlife Division (Kaziranga) Ramesh Gogoi said that communication always remains a vital tool to sort out differences and the Forest department has been doing the needful to address many issues of local people in whatever way possible as local people had always been alert as far as protection of wild animals of Kaziranga National Park cum Tiger Reserve in concerned.
Dr Rathin Barman, Joint Director of Wildlife Trust of India, said that the Forest department alone cannot be expected to protect wild animals including rhinos with any sophisticated weapons if there was no support from local people. So the concern of fringe villages must be addressed by competent authority.
Dr Pranab Jyoti Bora of WWF India said that proper mechanism must be placed to monitor the functioning of the Eco Development Committee.
Senior reporter Swapan Nath outlined the need of opening up more communication channels with local people of Kaziranga as there was a growing misunderstanding between Forest department and common people.
The panel discussion was anchored by Kaziranga Wildlife Warden Uttam Saikia.
Earlier Arif Hussain from Aaranyak and Robin Sharma, Research Officer of Kaziranga National Park gave presentation on wildlife and rhinos of Kaziranga, which was attended by school students.
Our Correspondent from Barpeta adds: The World Rhino Day was celebrated in Manas National Park cum Tiger Project today. MEWS, an NGO, WWF India and the park authority jointly organised several programmes in Bansbari range of the park.
An awareness meeting held on the occasion was addressed by AK Sarma, director of the park, RN Brahma, Deputy Director, R Sarma, Deputy Commissioner of Baksa and several other dignitaries. Daring inclement weather a large number of students and locales from the adjoining villages attended the meeting. An essay competition was also organised yesterday and the prizes were distributed today by R Sarma, Deputy Commissioner Baksa.
