‘Public awakening needed to protect wild animals’

BHUBANESWAR: “Extinction of any single species from the environment generates serious imbalance as wildlife constitutes an integral part of our own environment,” said Minister of Forest and Environment Bijayashree Routray while inaugurating the State-level function on the observance of the 58th Wildlife Week here on Sunday.

For more effective protection of habitats of wildlife, the Minister solicited the co-operation of the people of the State. He described the various steps taken by the Government for effective conservation of the forest habitat, to mitigate the man-animal conflict, reclamation of degraded forests and reconnecting the fragmented wildlife habitats.

Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment Department, RK Sharma addressing the mass said that wildlife and their habitats are duly protected and conserved for the survival of mankind. “For this, a lot of public awakening is required,” he said.

Sharma said the Wildlife Organisation in the State has launched an elephant corridor management programme and a sum of Rs 5 crore has been provided for improvement and development of 14 pre-identified of Elephant Corridors across the State. It is hoped that, over a period, once these patches are well stocked with vegetation and water bodies, the movement of elephants will be contained in these corridors, he added.

“To accord further protection to tigers and to have an objective assessment of tiger in our State, 80 digital cameras has been installed in Similipal Tiger Reserve and Satakosia Tiger Reserve and 100 more such cameras are in the process of installation,” said Sharma. Formation of Tiger Protection Force for Similipal Tiger Reserve is in offing, he added.

The prestigious State level ‘Biju Patnaik Award for Wildlife Conservation (2011-12)’ was awarded with 2 lakhs cheque to Shyam Om Prasad Mishra of Subarnapur for his sustained contribution towards the conservation of wildlife. Besides, the Minister released three books, one documentary film on Bhitarkanika and a Newsletter of Odisha Bamboo Development Agency on the occasion. 

Among others, PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden JD Sharma, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority chairman BK Patnaik and top forest officials were present.