HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, May 6: Aaranyak’s flagship campaign ‘Rhino Goes to School’ was organised as a series for over 400 students of three schools located near two rhino bearing areas of the state.
One of the programmes was organised at the Luit Jatiya Vidyalaya at Sengelimora in Orang in collaboration with the administration of the Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve, in which over 250 students participated.
As part of the awareness campaign, students were educated on diverse aspects of rhinos, the animal’s characteristics and habitat as well as the role they play in eco systems and for our well-being.
An engaging open quiz contest was also organised in conjunction with the visual presentation on the subject, interactions on animals like the one-horned rhinoceros and talks on local flora and fauna.
Headmaster of the school, Baharul Islam, president of Fatasimolu Block DC, Abul Kalam, president of Fatasimolu NC, EDC, Khairul Basher, local conservationist, Babukanta Daw and Bipul Gonju and members of Aaranyak were also present in the programme.
Another such awareness event was organised by Aaranyak in collaboration with the Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve authority at the Vidyasagar Jatiya Vidyalaya in Rowmari in Orang, where over 120 students participated.
One more such outreach event was conducted at the Medokgaon ME School in Bonkual in Golaghat district. Over 50 students participated in the programme. . Babukanta Daw and Akash Morang, members of Aaranyak were also present.
Arif Hussain, manager of Aaranyak’s Rhino Research and Conservation Division attended the series of programmes as resource person, which was supported by the UK- based David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.
It is an ambitious campaign designed to raise awareness about conservation among students living on the edge of rhino-bearing areas. As such, the outreach event also emphasised on the importance of citizens sustaining wildlife and maintaining the balance of the eco system in order to protect wildlife.
