Members of Village Defence Parties in Assam’s Morigaon district receive essential gear to bolster their efforts in protecting the one-horned rhinoceros at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
Guwahati: In a significant step towards wildlife conservation, members of Village Defence Parties (VDPs) in Assam’s Morigaon district have been equipped with vital field gear to enhance their efforts in safeguarding the one-horned rhinoceros at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Recently, a program held at the Mayong police station saw fifty members from twenty-five VDPs receiving essential items such as torches and raincoats.
The initiative, organized by the biodiversity conservation group Aaranyak in partnership with Morigaon District Police and supported by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, aims to tackle challenges related to human-wildlife conflicts and poaching. District Superintendent of Police Hemanta Kumar Das emphasized the importance of this gear in improving the VDPs’ monitoring and protection capabilities.
During the event, VDP members recounted their experiences managing rhino-related incidents in the Mayong area, including a recent tragic event in which a man lost his life due to a rhinoceros encounter. The Additional Superintendent of Police, Dhrubajyoti Nath, discussed strategies for minimizing such conflicts through better understanding of animal behavior and preventive measures.
Aaranyak’s Secretary General Bibhab Kumar Talukdar highlighted that vigilant efforts from VDP members have successfully prevented any poaching incidents in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary over the last eight years. The sanctuary, spanning 38.85 square kilometers, is known for having the highest density of rhinoceros in the region, providing crucial grassland and wetland habitats for these majestic animals.
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