GUWAHATI, Nov 30 ? The rhino and the tiger are two extraordinary animals which in their natural habitat and behaviour pose no threat to human beings, yet anthropogenic factors have threatened the survival of both the species within their habitats in India?s North East, as in other parts of Asia and Africa.
Recognising this fact, a consultation workshop ?Rhino and Tiger Conservation-Education Project? was organised by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), North-East, in the Assam State Zoo recently.
The workshop supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Services, saw representatives from the State forest department, NGOs, and wildlife organisations from parts of the North East participate in the daylong programme. Significantly, several veteran wildlife enthusiasts, including at least one retired forest official, also animated the proceedings.
Giving an introduction to the thrust areas of the project initiated by the CEE, North-East, its coordinator Soumen Dey said that under the project, efforts at educating the students, teachers and field staff of the forest department would be undertaken in four areas ? Pobitora, Manas, Orang, and Namdapha. The time frame of the project would be two years.
The effort at educating the target groups would involve the preparation of four manuals, each one containing specific information about the rhino and the tiger, their present status, connections with human society, as well as the need for their urgent conservation.
Defining the expectation of the project, he said that ?students would be motivated, and would subsequently act as multipliers of awareness.? He also felt that dissemination of information relating to conservation would also lead to increased awareness among communities residing close to forests, sanctuaries, and National Parks.
The availability of resource material for field staff of the forest department also constitutes an objective of the education programme, along with enhanced park-people interaction, and the eventual establishment of a network of people who are concerned about conservation issues.
One of the senior-most participants, Karuna Dutta Chaudhury was of the view that the conservation effort of the rhino and the tiger required a strong scientific database and its interpretation. Underscoring the need to understand the socio-biological status of the one-horned rhino, he observed, ?Scientific analysis of the rhino horn can help debunk the various myths associated with it.?
Choudhury described the tiger as an animal worthy of conservation efforts, and favoured a systematic effort to project it in the right perspective as a species that generally did not seek confrontation with human beings. Recalling his experiences, he added, ?the tiger is an animal of fabulous adaptation.? That was the reason for its ability to survive in vastly different habitats, which ranged from dry forest to moist evergreen regions.
Other participants highlighted lesser-known facts about the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, and delineated the species as one that called for more scientific observation and documentation pooling the resources spread over books, thesis, reports, and the internet. Some were of
the opinion that rhinos of different territories marked by similar vegetation exhibit different behaviour patterns, a view which bears interesting possibilities for scientists and researchers.
Phupla Singpho, a participant from Arunachal Pradesh, referred to the close connection between wild animals and human beings, especially indigenous communities. According to him increasing human population induced by immigration was responsible for the destruction and degradation of forests in Arunachal Pradesh.
Unequivocal in his support to conservation efforts, he also made a startling comment, ?the Sumatran rhino was once a resident of the Namdapha National Park.? His grandfather in the mid-part of the 20th century had made one of the last sightings, he claimed. Another participant, however, contended that the species referred to was possibly the Javan rhino.
Talking to this reporter, Dr Hilloljyoti Singha, a wildlife biologist stressed the necessity for educative efforts on conservation where students and youths could have a strong participatory role. He said, ?There are several programmes related to the environment, which teachers could develop, and the students of life sciences would benefit from.?
The feedback from today?s workshop would help shape the contents of the manuals, which the CEE would publish for the three different groups ? teachers, students, and field staff of the forest department. Members of CEE, North-East, are hopeful that more suggestions and inputs on rhino and tiger conservation would pour in from concerned quarters.