GUWAHATI: In a significant effort to enhance collaboration in combating wildlife offenses, a workshop titled “Wildlife Crime Scenarios and Its Various Dimensions” was organised in Morigaon district.
The event, held in the conference hall of the Morigaon Superintendent of Police’s office, drew participation from judicial services, the forest and the police departments.
The workshop, orchestrated by Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation organisation, in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) of Morigaon and the district police, brought together key stakeholders involved in wildlife conservation.
Judicial officers, including the district and sessions judge, chief judicial magistrate, the district commissioner, superintendent of police (SP), additional SP, and other senior police officials, joined forces with forest officials, including range officers and foresters.
SP Morigaon, Hemanta Kumar Das, welcomed the participants, outlining the workshop’s objectives.
District and Sessions Judge of Morigaon, Nayan Shankar Baruah, provided a detailed overview of the investigative procedures mandated by the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
His address covered crucial aspects such as the effective submission of wildlife crime offense reports and the importance of meticulous seizure lists.
Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, secretary general and CEO of Aaranyak, offered a comprehensive perspective on wildlife conservation at both global and local levels.
As the Chair of the Asian Rhino Specialist Group and senior advisor to the International Rhino Foundation, Dr Talukdar stressed the necessity for sustained collaboration among all relevant agencies to combat the rising threat of wildlife crime.
Highlighting the remarkable achievement of “zero rhino poaching” in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) since 2014, Dr Talukdar attributed this success to the exceptional coordination among police, forest, and civil administration officials in Morigaon district.
He emphasized the need to maintain this collaborative spirit to secure the future of rhinos in Pobitora WLS.
District Commissioner of Morigaon, Devashish Sharma, commended the workshop for its substantive focus on wildlife crime and its various dimensions.
He emphasised that such initiatives contribute to the convergence of various government departments, enhancing the administrative delivery system.
The workshop featured an engaging session where police and forest officials shared their experiences and challenges in investigating wildlife crime cases.
The event concluded with appreciation for Dr Talukdar’s insights into the global wildlife crime scenario and gratitude to all judicial officers for their active participation in the workshop.
