TURA:
The week-long celebration of Wildlife Week 2022 concluded at SMELC, Dakopgre, Tura, on October 21, with various competitions organised from October 17 to 21, to mark the week.
The programme was organised by the Divisional Forest Officer, East and West Garo Hills Wildlife Division, in collaboration with the Integrated People for Tourism Conservation (IPTAC) and supported by Hub News. The theme for the wildlife week celebration is “Recovering Key Species for Ecosystem Restoration”.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Swapnil Tembe, highlighted the significant role of every individual in preserving the ecosystem and co-existence of humans along with the environment and wildlife in it. Emphasizing on the importance of honey bees, he said that though it is a small creature yet, it is very important since they pollinate the flowers of the plant to bear fruits and provide food for us and without which one cannot survive. He also mentioned about the importance of the food chain and interdependence of plants and animals which if disrupted could lead to imbalance and destroy nature.
Further, stating that though the population of wildlife is decreasing, but he expressed hope that the presentation shown during the function had given insight about the presence of wild animals in our forest. He therefore suggested for Sustainable development where development would take place by balancing the environment of the region and urged all especially the youth to spread awareness about protecting our forest and wildlife in the region.
In his keynote address, the Divisional Forest Officer, East and West Garo Hills Wildlife Division, Rupankar K Marak, informed that the wildlife week is being celebrated every year in order to create awareness about the protection and conservation of wildlife as well as the ecosystem in our region. Mentioning the rich biodiversity of the region, he stated that biodiversity is an integral part of our life and urged everyone to be kind to all living beings on earth and support and maintain the rich biodiversity and the natural habitat of the region.
The presentation of Wildlife Biologist Smarthe G Momin on “Biodiversity Assessment and Wildlife Population” in Enumeration technique had provided gainful insights on the wildlife population in the area. The practice of protecting wild animals and their natural habitat is necessary since these animals play an important role in maintaining our eco-system and that they live for the next generation. Stating that illegal trades of wildlife, habitat loss and indiscriminate hunting are also some factors leading to the decrease in animal population of the area, he said.
About 58 numbers of Camera traps were installed at Nokrek National Park in the protected area and outside for 62 days after which they could assess the animals present in the Nokrek National Park. The recorded animals include the Clouded Leopard, Marbled cat, Leopard Cat, Sambar deer, barking deer, Indian elephant, omnivorous animals, Large Indian Civet, Asian Civet, porcupine species, etc.
Various competitions like Drawing and Painting Competition, Poem writing on Nokrek National Park and Photography contest on wildlife and endangered species were organised and prizes were distributed to the winners on the concluding day. The organisers have organised public awareness campaigns at Rari, Kherapara and Dadenggre on protection of wildlife and students visited the Mini Zoo at Nehru Park at New Tura and were sensitized on the protection and preservation of fauna in the region.
The winners of Drawing competition are Amrea T Sangma, Yishai William Ch Momin and Vaibhav Debnath in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in Group A category, Azeka Cheana B Marak, Achillee A Sangma, Nokinte Batera M Marak in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in Group B category.
In the painting competition, Sengnarik Winona Sangma and Ishika Das, Ridhi Dey and Suzan Korin and Bakrime Rikande Sangma and Rudra Burman shared the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively.
In poem competition, Rene Chiara Momin, Jehiel R Marak and Aryan Sun Arengh bagged the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes while in photography contest, Abbey Kadim N Sangma, Brilliant Cindy S Marak and Aayan Zubair Marak bagged the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively.
On the occasion, Nine Pray Pharson Momin has also been awarded with Certificate, Memento and cash for his dedicated service who was appointed as Forester Grade I and had served the department and now promoted to Deputy Ranger. Further, Sengkan N Sangma Wildlife Conservationist and Member of IPTAC was also awarded with Certificate of Appreciation, memento and cash.
The chief Guest along with the dignitaries distributed the prizes to the winners of these competitions during the function.