From Our Correspondent
PASIGHAT, Feb 19: The management of D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary in association with Jawaharlal Nehru College (JNC) NSS unit organised an event, themed ‘Wildlife matters, save wildlife’, in college campus here on Sunday to generate mass awareness about conservation and protection of wildlife in and around the sanctuary.
The event involving marathon race, deliberation on importance of wildlife by PowerPoint presentations, plantation of saplings aimed at sensitising the NSS volunteers on the theme.
DFO Kempi Ete, JNC principal Dr. Tasi Taloh, NSS coordinator Asst. Prof. Dr. Kento Kadu, former AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai, range officers CK Chowpoo (Borguli wildlife range), Orin Perme (Anchalghat wildlife range) and Oyem Mize (Sibiyamukh wildlife range), NGO Aaranyak’s Dr. Jimmy Borah and project officer Ivy Farheen Hussain as resource persons attended the event.
A marathon race covering JNC-GTC-Raneghat-Bodak/Ayeng/ Pasighat tri-junction, flagged off by Dr. Taloh, was conducted in the morning. The race winners (boys and girls) were awarded by DFO and other dignitaries.
DFO Ete, in his address, said that conservation of wildlife calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders, including students’ communities to maintain healthy natural ecosystems. She urged the students to play a proactive role in sensitising the masses on importance of wildlife conservation for the sake of the future generations.
While presenting photo records of wild animals of the sanctuary, Ete said that local people are accustomed to exploit nature by felling trees and killing wildlife, which is a serious concern. The students should volunteer in helping forest and wildlife departments to stop such destructions, Ete added.
Hussain highlighted wildlife diversity of the NE with special reference to hunting and trafficking of rare and endangered species. She gave a presentation on role of birds, insects and other exotic species in the maintenance of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Aaranyak, being a reputed wildlife conservation NGO in NE, has been actively playing proactive role in protection of wildlife in D. Ering WLS since last couple of years, including recent signing of MoU with the sanctuary authority for formation of community surveillance and monitoring team.
Dai urged the people to stop killing wild animals in the name of festivals and traditions while Kadu asked NSS volunteers to spread the message of wildlife conservation efforts among your societies.
20
