'Free bird' campaigning kicked off

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 1: The Conservation and Research of Biodiversity and Environment (CoRBiE), an NGO is organizing a free bird campaigning on the occasion of wild life week starting from today. CoRBiE president Kumud Chandra Rabha said this in a press conference in Guwahati Press Club today.

Rabha said, “On the occasion of wild life week from today, we are going to start an awareness campaign for rescuing the captured wild birds and other wildlife animals kept as pet from the homes of people and send them back to the forest to keep the balance of the wild life. This time, we will basically cover the districts like Kamrup, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, lbari, Udalguri and Goalpara to rescue the birds and other wild animals.”

He added, “According to Wildlife Protection Act 1972, keeping wild animals as pet is an offence and punishment may lead up to seven years of imprisonment. We therefore, trying to save the wild animals and aware the people about the act.” Rabha also said, “We are also working on rescuing the skes and trying to change the superstitions related with skes and aware people that modern medical science can save life of people bitten by ske. Unfortutely, most of the hospitals in our state do not have anti-venom medicine which compels people to seek local treatment. We, therefore request the government to supply the anti-venom medicine in our district hospitals and PHCs.”