The local communities near Assam’s Raimona National Park expressed joy after 57 poachers in the park surrendered on Wednesday.
The poachers surrendered along with arms in a ceremonial function held at Mathambill near the newly created national park.
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Pramod Boro has appealed to the surrendered poachers and their family members to start a fresh life with dignity and respect for wildlife.
Boro, while addressing the surrender programme, said, “Today is World Rhino Day and we will soon reintroduce rhinos in the newly created park. There were rhinos 70-80 years ago in this area.”
For rehabilitation of the wildlife hunters’ families, one-time aid Rs. 50,000 was given to each of them.
Boro announced that two weaving clusters will be set up for the promotion of traditional culture near the Raimona National Park.
It will contribute to both the promotion of community-based tourism and the conservation of traditional skills of local Communities.
Sanatan Deka of IFAW-WTI was also present at the event.
Deka has been a part of this long process of motivation to these poachers with the help of local NGO Raimona Golden Langur Ecotourism Society and Anurag Singh, CCF and CHD, Forest, BTC.
Ranjit Basumatary, executive member, forest department, BTC has been instrumental to the achievement.
It is expected that the initiative will contribute to saving the wildlife in the national park.
The villagers said tree felling has been reduced by more than 90% after the notification and establishment of the national park.