Emphasis laid on need to curb illegal wildlife trade

From our Correspondent

DIGBOI, June 6: In tune with the rest across the globe, a day-long agenda of various activities was organized here at Digboi by the IQAC of the Digboi College, Aaranyak, Wildlife Conservation Biology of Digboi College and NSS Unit of Digboi College to mark the celebration of the World Environment Day in Digboi.

The programme started with plantation programme followed by painting and quiz competition among the schools and colleges of the historic and Industrial Oil town Digboi. The plantation drive was kicked off by the Vice-Principal of Digboi College, Kedar th Timsi, in the presence of several other faculty members and students. Meanwhile, 120 participants from around 21 schools and colleges took part in the painting competition organized on the occasion based on ture conservation centering round the theme ‘Zero Tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife’.

In the quiz competition conducted among various students of schools and colleges across Tinsukia district, 13 schools and colleges participated.

In the afternoon, a three-hour panel discussion on ‘Zero Tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife’, especially for the enforcement agencies was carried out by resource persons Rahul Dutta of Intertiol Rhino Foundation, India and Ajay Kumar Das, Associate Advocate of Aaranyak and advocate of Gauhati High Court.  

DFO Tinsukia Wildlife, DFO, Logging Division Tinsukia, DFO, Digboi, Range Officers, Beat Officers, forest guard, DSP Tinsukia, SDPO Margherita, OCs from various Police Station within the district, police personnel and Indian Army Officers of 15 Kumaon Regime of the Indian Army, faculty members, jourlists and students took part in the discussion.

Rajib Rudra Tariang, Wildlife Biologist in the Department of Zoology, Digboi College welcomed the guests and the participants and in his address, Tariang threw light on the theme of this year’s World Environment Day  as declared by the United tion.  The session started with an iugural speech by Dr. Dip Saikia, Principal, Digboi College who apprised the audience about the initiation of wildlife conservation activities by Digboi College by the teaching, non-teaching and students of the institution, and iugurated the panel session.

The chief guest of the significant session, Puru Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia, addressed the gathering and spoke about the need to curb the mece of illegal wildlife trade within the region. Gupta also urged all enforcement personnel to work together towards wildlife conservation. He said the police and the army personnel and officers could play a significant role to this effect and be of great help towards minimizing or zeroing down the poaching activities with aid from the forest department.

Rahul Dutta rrated effectively and with slide presentation about the details of the history of hunting and the current poaching activities of rhino horn, elephant ivory, tiger skin and bone, and other endangered and vulnerable species for the want of trophy, medicines, glamour and prestige. He also discussed about the lacue in the system of investigation of such crimes and the follow-up action in the cases.

Another resource person, Ajoy Das, Associate Lawyer of Aaranyak and advocate, spoke on the topic of illegal wildlife trade and laws and details of various sections of Wildlife Protection Acts, Indian Pel Code, and Customs Acts and other acts. He delivered his speech on the issues of wildlife of Assam and the pros and cons of the cases related to the wildlife crimes by the culprits.  

In yet another location, Digboi College students also took part in an exhibition in the Digboi Poribesh Mela at Bihutoli organized by IOCL, Assam Oil Division. The stall represented with posters depicted the theme ‘Zero Tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife’ and also highlighted the rich biodiversity of Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary with photographs.