Student-faculty exchange programme conducted at Digboi College

DIBRUGARH: A three-day student-faculty exchange programme was conducted with the PG Department of Life Sciences (Botany and Zoology) of Digboi College and Department of Zoology, Royal School of Life Sciences, the Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati, organized by IQAC, Digboi College at Digboi College and also at Dihing Patkai National Park as per the MoU of both the institutions, from May 20 to May 22.

In the inaugural programme, Dr Kishor Haloi, Course Coordinator for M.Sc. Life Sciences of Digboi College, delivered the welcome speech along with introductory session and Dr Dip Saikia, Principal, Digboi College, delivered the inaugural speech and expressed happiness over the exchange programme under the MoU, which was signed in the year 2021 with Royal Global University. Dr Pobitra Bharali, IQAC Coordinator of Digboi College, spoke on the importance of such an exchange programme while Rajib Rudra Tariang, Head, Department of Zoology delivered the vote of thanks.

On the first and second day, the students of Royal Global University visited the Dihing Patkai National Park for hands-on knowledge on the observation of birds, mammals, butterflies, moths and other insects. The field classes were taken up by Rajib Rudra Tariang, Head, Department of Zoology, and Dr Mitrajit Deb, Head, Department of Zoology, Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati and Sangita Biswas, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Assam Royal Global University. Two local birding guides, Gokul Tanti and Mintu Tanti of Saraipung Forest Village along with Dilip Phukan, forest guards accompanied the team and helped in spotting the birds and other wild animals. This village was adopted by the NSS Digboi College Unit, 2016 onwards, where the villagers were trained on eco-tourism concepts, tourist guides, livelihood initiative schemes, etc.

During the two-day field study tour, the team observed about 52 species of birds, including a few common birds. Altogether 67 species of butterflies were recorded during the trip, including 112 species of different moths and few other arthropods. The team also sighted, Asiatic Wild Elephants, Hoolock Gibbons, Capped Langur, Rhesus macaque, Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Particolored Flying Squirrel, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Barking Deer, besides a Thai Cat Snake and a Bengal Monitor Lizards.

On the third day, the M.Sc. students of Life Sciences (Zoology and Botany) of Digboi College were taught by Dr Mitrajit Deb, Head, Department of Zoology, and Sangita Biswas, Assistant Professor of Royal Global University, delivered talk on ‘Backyard biodiversity audit using citizen science tools’, and on ‘Animal behaviour with contexts to parental care’, respectively.

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