GUWAHATI: Commemorating the International Vulture Awareness Day, Aaranyak, in collaboration with Rani High School, staged a street play titled “Save Vulture” on Friday to underscore the importance of vulture conservation.
The event featured an engaging and educational performance by the students of Rani High School situated in Rani block in Assam’s Kamrup (Rural) district, highlighting the alarming decline in vulture populations and the urgent need to protect these vital scavenger birds.
The street play powerfully depicted the significant decline in vulture populations over the past few decades and highlighted the ecological ramifications of their dwindling numbers.
Through a series of impactful scenes and dialogue, the students demonstrated the crucial role vultures play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem by scavenging on carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases.
Dr Prarthana Mudoi, an assistant teacher at Rani High School, led the street play.
Aaranyak, the region’s premier biodiversity conservation organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, partnered with Rani High School to foster environmental awareness and inspire action among the younger generation.
The collaboration aimed to educate the community about the threats faced by vultures, including habitat loss, poisoning, and the decline in their prey base.
Forest official of Kamrup East Forest Division Mrinal Kanti Nath said, “Vultures are essential to our ecosystem, serving as nature’s cleanup crew. The decline in their populations has far-reaching consequences for our environment. Today’s event was a powerful reminder of the collective effort needed to safeguard these incredible birds and ensure their survival for future generations.”
The street play not only educated the audience about the vultures’ plight but also emphasized the collective responsibility to support conservation efforts.
The performance concluded with a call to action, encouraging attendees to participate in vulture conservation initiatives and spread awareness about these remarkable birds.
“We are thrilled to see the students of Rani High School take such a proactive role in vulture conservation,” said Arup Kumar Das, Aaranyak’s Senior Manager in Geospatial Technology and Application Division.
“Their performance is a testament to the power of creative expression in driving meaningful change and raising awareness about the urgent need to protect our wildlife,” added Aaranyak’s official Wasima Begum.
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Dipak Kumar Sarma, Head of the school, said, “The students’ dedication to this cause is inspiring. We hope that their efforts will spark conversations and actions that contribute to the preservation of vultures and their habitats.”
Aaranyak intends to intensify ‘Vulture Conservation Awareness’ in some selected districts in Assam in the coming months to reduce the deaths of vultures.