Assam CM urges stakeholders to pledge to protect, sustain wildlife population

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Saturday urged all stakeholders to take a pledge to protect and sustain the state's wildlife population. He asked conservationists, people in general, students and government machinery to put up a united effort to create a protective shield for the wildlife population. "Assam has the proud privilege of sustaining a very vibrant wildlife but trespassing into this territory by vested interests including poachers has put their population in peril," Sonowal said at a function organised to mark the 64th Wildlife Week here.

He hailed the role of forest guards, conservationists and people living in the fringe districts namely Biswanath, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Golaghat and Karbi Anglong of Kaziranga National Park for bringing down incidents of poaching leading to a considerable rise in the population of rhinoceros and other wildlife in the state. The Chief Minister also said that Assam has a rich reserve of biodiversity and there should be a well-coordinated and concerted efforts to preserve its rich bio-diversity.

He also asked the Environment and Forest Department to organize awareness rallies in all parts of the state to sensitize people and motivate them to protect and promote the rich bio-diversity of the state. Referring to a man-animal conflict which is essentially attributed to the shrinkage of habitats and food of animals, Sonowal said occasions like Wild Life Week should strive to generate awareness and lend capacity building by taking some pragmatic steps to spearhead the people's efforts for the protection of animals and their habitats.

(With inputs from agencies.)