GUWAHATI: Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s instruction on establishing synthetic highlands within the World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park (KNP) for offering safe haven to animals during flood did not go down well with the conservationists.
Even as leader minister’s push for synthetic highlands is also out of his fear for lowering animal casualty in KNP due to flood, conservationists were of the opinion that the government’s approach on Kaziranga’s flood control was once “lopsided”. In closing 12 months’s flood, probably the most worst in three many years, nearly 400 animals together with 31 rhinos died.
“What needs to be done urgently to offer protection to Kaziranga’s flora and fauna is to supply protected passage to animals that moves into the hills of (adjacent) Karbi Anglong during floods. What is being worried is the intense quarrying in Karbi Anglong plus huge felling of bushes in forests adjacent to the Park,” said Prerna Singh Bindra, former member of National Board of Wildlife and writer of The Vanishing: India’s Wildlife Crisis.
The 860 squarekm area of KNP, additionally a Tiger Reserve, is situated on the flood plains of Brahmaputra. The secure area is a contiguous landscape with the forests of Karbi Anglong on the southern fringe of Kaziranga. The landscape is interspersed with corridors used by animals for motion between Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong. During flood when Kaziranga goes underneath water, the highlands in Karbi Anglong provides the natural safe haven to rhinos, tigers, elephants, flora and fauna buffalos, different species of deer and different animals.
“Kaziranga’s ecosystem and its flora and fauna have developed with the flood. The highlands of Karbi Anglong are excellent shelters for animals during flood. Instead of spending money and human assets on creating synthetic highlands inside of Kaziranga, the government must have wired on making sure foolproof protection of animals after they migrate to Karbi Anglong during flood. This would had been the efficient means of dealing with flood scenario in Kaziranga,” setting activist Rohit Choudhury.
After Choudhury closing 12 months lodged complaint with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) about “rampant” stone quarrying on prime animal corridors in Karbi Anglong, the statutory frame underneath Union ministry of setting, woodland and climate exchange (MoEFCC) just lately requested the state govt for fast ban of stone quarrying in Karbi Anglong. NTCA raised the fear that such job will endanger survival of flora and fauna in Kaziranga.
“Artificial highlands in Kaziranga are being built with none correct clinical study on its long-term impact on park’s ecosystem. As a secure area Kaziranga needs minimum human interference, and artificial highlands must had been have shyed away from. The need of the hour is to make animal corridors in Karbi Anlong freed from mining job,” honorary flora and fauna warden Uttam Saikia said.
Sonowal on April nine visited Kaziranga and steered park officials to finish synthetic highlands before monsoon. He said the highlands must have ok plantation so that animals can use them as fodder. He additionally emphasised on keeping veterinary care able to wait to animals in misery.
Forest officials said works on 29 out of 33 highlands had been finished.
Even as leader minister’s push for synthetic highlands is also out of his fear for lowering animal casualty in KNP due to flood, conservationists were of the opinion that the government’s approach on Kaziranga’s flood control was once “lopsided”. In closing 12 months’s flood, probably the most worst in three many years, nearly 400 animals together with 31 rhinos died.
“What needs to be done urgently to offer protection to Kaziranga’s flora and fauna is to supply protected passage to animals that moves into the hills of (adjacent) Karbi Anglong during floods. What is being worried is the intense quarrying in Karbi Anglong plus huge felling of bushes in forests adjacent to the Park,” said Prerna Singh Bindra, former member of National Board of Wildlife and writer of The Vanishing: India’s Wildlife Crisis.
The 860 squarekm area of KNP, additionally a Tiger Reserve, is situated on the flood plains of Brahmaputra. The secure area is a contiguous landscape with the forests of Karbi Anglong on the southern fringe of Kaziranga. The landscape is interspersed with corridors used by animals for motion between Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong. During flood when Kaziranga goes underneath water, the highlands in Karbi Anglong provides the natural safe haven to rhinos, tigers, elephants, flora and fauna buffalos, different species of deer and different animals.
“Kaziranga’s ecosystem and its flora and fauna have developed with the flood. The highlands of Karbi Anglong are excellent shelters for animals during flood. Instead of spending money and human assets on creating synthetic highlands inside of Kaziranga, the government must have wired on making sure foolproof protection of animals after they migrate to Karbi Anglong during flood. This would had been the efficient means of dealing with flood scenario in Kaziranga,” setting activist Rohit Choudhury.
After Choudhury closing 12 months lodged complaint with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) about “rampant” stone quarrying on prime animal corridors in Karbi Anglong, the statutory frame underneath Union ministry of setting, woodland and climate exchange (MoEFCC) just lately requested the state govt for fast ban of stone quarrying in Karbi Anglong. NTCA raised the fear that such job will endanger survival of flora and fauna in Kaziranga.
“Artificial highlands in Kaziranga are being built with none correct clinical study on its long-term impact on park’s ecosystem. As a secure area Kaziranga needs minimum human interference, and artificial highlands must had been have shyed away from. The need of the hour is to make animal corridors in Karbi Anlong freed from mining job,” honorary flora and fauna warden Uttam Saikia said.
Sonowal on April nine visited Kaziranga and steered park officials to finish synthetic highlands before monsoon. He said the highlands must have ok plantation so that animals can use them as fodder. He additionally emphasised on keeping veterinary care able to wait to animals in misery.
Forest officials said works on 29 out of 33 highlands had been finished.
Conservationists oppose artificial highlands within Kaziranga to save animals during flood
![Conservationists oppose artificial highlands within Kaziranga to save animals during flood]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
April 29, 2018
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