Chairman, State Biodiversity Board Nagaland, Wildlife Warden Dimapur & Divisional Forest Officer, Dimapur along with participants of World Elephant Day 2022 programme at Forest Office Complex, Dimapur on August 12.
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 14 (MExN): The Wildlife Wing, Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Nagaland observed World Elephant Day 2022 on August 12 at Forest Office Complex, Dimapur.
The programme was chaired by Aaron Yimchunger, Forest Range Officer Intanki National Park. The programme began with invocation prayer by Thupuhu, FG, INP.
Dr C Zupeni, IFS, Director, Nagaland Zoological Park and incharge Wildlife Warden, Dimapur welcomed the invitees and participants to the programme. She highlighted that World Elephant Day was first observed on August 12, 2012, initiated by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark of Canazwest Pictures and Thailand based Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. Since, then it is observed by various wildlife organizations and individuals all over the world.
Nagaland had declared the Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary as an Elephant Reserve on August 16 2018. With this, Nagaland has 2 Elephant Reserves, the other being Intanki Elephant Reserve. She stressed on the importance of saving the jumbos as they play a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem.
Satya Prakash Tripathi, IFS (Retd) Chairman, State Biodiversity Board Nagaland, who was the special invitee of the programme, stated that three basic needs of life which is shelter, water & food are all provided by the forests and as such conservation of all wildlife species including elephant, is very important. He stated that some states of the country had very less rainfall which is essential for managing forest and wildlife habitats; but Nagaland state is blessed with good rainfall. People need to come forward for conservation of forests as it will be beneficial in the long run, he encouraged.
He also stated that the country has made a significant step for forest and wildlife conservation such as enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Forest Conservation Act 1980 and the subject of Forest being transferred from state list to concurrent list in 1976. Tripathi encouraged the students to be the ambassadors for conservation of Forest & Wildlife for people’s survival and to have empathy to all animals.
During the programme, a short documentary film on elephant conservation and steps taken by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India under Project Elephant to improve elephant habitats and address the conservation issues related to it, was shown. There was also interaction among the participants.
The programme was attended by DFO Dimapur & staff, various officials of the department from Wildlife Division Dimapur, Nagaland Zoological Park, Intanki National Park, CWLW, Dimapur and Students from Government Middle School Indisen Village and owners of captive elephants. Nukshi, Deputy Ranger, Wildlife Division Dimapur proposed vote of thanks and benediction was pronounced by Sentinaro.
