No blueprint for conservation of wildlife in south Assam

Two environmental groups, People's Science Society (PSS) and SAFE, have expressed apprehension of poaching of wild animals and birds with the arrival of migratory birds to the region during winter.

In a memorandum submitted to the Conservator of Forest, Southern Assam Circle, the two organisations alleged that the Wild Life Protection Act seemed beyond application in south Assam as all kinds of animals and birds were being brutally killed by the poachers, forest dwellers and even by common villagers.

PSS Secretary Krishanu Bhattacharjee claimed though the reports of such killings of species have frequently been published in the media, no punitive action has ever been taken by the authority concerned.

He alleged that every year thousands of birds are killed in Jatinga and this has been passed off as "mass suicide of birds" to cover up the failure of the forest department to conserve these birds.

He pointed out that Barak Valley and Dima Hasao Autonomous Council are characterised by the presence of endangered species of animals and birds like Hoolock gibbon, Pygmy hog, Sparrow, Tiger, Wild hog, pangolin, and other ape species.

Bhattacharjee said that the forest department had not done any survey regarding the number of water-bodies in south Assam where migratory birds came every winter and the problems existed in the conservation of these birds.