65th National Wildlife Week observed

ITANAGAR, Oct 8: Along with the rest of the country, the 65th National Wildlife Week was observed in Arunachal Pradesh with various programmes conducted all over the state.

In Lower Subansiri district, a weeklong sensitisation and birding program concluded at Yazali on Monday. Earlier, the programme was organized at Raga, Tamen-Boasimla and Ziro, which saw participation from district administration, police, educational institutions, women's self-help groups and NGOs.

The participants also took part in Swachta hi Seva program and pledged not to consume wild animals meat.

The program was organised by Hapoli Forest Division in collaboration with Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club (APBC).

DFO Koj Rinya encouraged people, particularly the youths to take up birding as a hobby and as a livelihood option, while noting that as per wildlife offences registered by the division, birds were amongst the most hunted wildlife for food and recreation.

RFOs from different ranges made power point presentations on the importance of conserving biodiversity, legal provisions for protection etc.

APBC also made power-point presentation on the basics of birding. The field sessions were led by well-known bird guide Lobsang Tsering during which more than hundred birds were recorded including rare species for the locality like Spot throated babbler, Grey headed parrotbill, Eurasian marsh harrier etc.

APBC informed that a signature campaign for regulation of air gun licenses and ammunitions received good response from the participants.

Wildlife Week was also observed in Kamlang Tiger Reserve under Wakro circle of Lohit district which concluded today.

The celebration began on October 2 with a pledge-taking to protect wildlife and not to use single-use plastics by the staff of tiger reserve and local people which also included students of nearby school followed by cleanliness drive and ceremonial tree planting.

Importance of forests and wildlife was highlighted in various schools of the fringe area. Also activities like drawing competition, tree planting, awareness meeting and distribution of prizes, etc. were conducted.

The weeklong celebration culminated with training workshop in collaboration with ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment) for field staff of Tiger Reserve and fringe area villagers.

Resource persons from ATREE imparted training on importance of forests and wildlife habitat in Arunachal Pradesh, bird’s identification technique, butterfly and Moth identification techniques, identification of mammals and practical demonstration on GPS and Camera Trap handling techniques. Expressing happiness with the workshop, the beneficiaries requested for more such trainings.

Our Pasighat Correspondent reports: The Wildlife Week was celebrated at Berung, one of fringe villages of Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in East Siang district on Sunday in which villagers of Berung including students of Berung village primary school participated with much enthusiasm.

The celebration of Wildlife Week was conducted under the chairmanship of 2nd Head Gaon Burah of Berung village Olom Panggeng, who appealed the locals to protect the wildlife of not only nearby D Ering Wildlife Sanctuary, but also birds and animals of around the village.

The other speakers who participated from the village also propagated and assured wholehearted cooperation to the authorities of D Ering Wildlife Division, Pasighat for preservation, conservation and protection of wildlife in the sanctuary.

Divisional Forest Officer, D Ering WL Sanctuary, Tasang Tasa sensitized the villagers and students on importance of co-existence of human being with animal kingdom. He appealed the villagers to play a proactive role in protecting the wildlife. He also briefed the villagers about tourism potentialities of the sanctuary which will give direct and indirect benefits to the village folks. Range Officer, Sibiyamukh Range, Domek Koyu also spoke and advised the villagers to be more sensitive in protecting the wildlife.