Locals have announced a series of protests demanding stronger action to protect wildlife in Assam’s Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve.Assam celebrated 2022 as a zero-rhino-poaching year. The ongoing year has seen two incidents related to the poaching of the prized one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, and lastly Manse National Park staff recovered the horn from a rhinoceros skeleton. In Lower AssamThe incident came to notice in June. Apparently the rhino had died and its prized horn was missing.
A bike rally was organized on the call of the Greater Manas Conservation and Tourism Development Society which was later called off at the instigation of the police. Locals decided to organize a massive rally as Assam Governor GC Kataria was planning to visit Manas that day. Society president Bubul Nath said several tigers, elephants, wild buffaloes, deer and pygmy hogs have been killed by poachers in the last few months.
Manas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to around 45 rhinos in captivity. A wildlife activist said “The protest by locals is a clear indication of their frustration with the authorities’ failure to protect wildlife in Manas National Park. The authorities need to take immediate action to allay the concerns of the locals and ensure the safety of the animals in the park. “
