Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) is organizing a panel discussion on ‘Saving the Rhinos – A Campaign for Conservation of Wildlife Population from Extinction’ at Nehru Centre, cultural wing of the High Commission of India in UK on August 10 next.
A press communique received in Jorhat said Rini Kakati, Assam co-ordinator for UK who has taken the initiative for organizing the discussion, said that the purpose of this event was to assist the government of Assam to find ways and means against poachers.
“Destruction of wildlife and environment has become endemic in many countries of the world compelling such countries to take remedial measures. In Assam the situation has become critical as large-scale poaching and killings are going on along in Kaziranga with the destructions of the animals’ habitats resulting in man- animal conflicts. Proper conservation of the wildlife will not only help in their preservation but will also help in promoting tourism in Assam,” Kakati said.
The discussion will witness the coming together of a number of top UK and India journalists.
Kakati said that after the shocking news of the death of the last Northern white male rhino, the saving the species from extinction has become an urgent and serious issue.
Destruction of wildlife and environment has become endemic in many countries of the world compelling such countries to take remedial measures.
In northeast India the situation has become critical as large-scale poaching and killings are going on along with the destruction of the animals’ habitats resulting in man-animal conflicts.
Conservationists recently announced that the Black Rhino in Western Africa has become extinct and the White Rhino in Central Africa is currently teetering on the brink of extinction.
“Saving the Rhinos world over and especially in Assam has become an urgent issue and can no longer be ignored or undermined,” Kakati further said.
She said that with the increase in Indian rhino poaching and killings, large scale destruction of wildlife, international community needs a programme of conservation of one horned rhino, Asian elephant and tiger which were increasingly becoming endangered species.
The panelists will be led by senior journalist from Assam Syed Zarir Hussain, Cathy Dean, CO, Save the Rhino International, Philip Mansbridge, IFAW UK Director, Vijay Mehta, Co-Founder and Chair of Uniting for Peace, Kongkona Sarma Co-founder of Gypsyfeet Travels and trained economist and Pralab Barua, Director, Paymek Consultant Pvt Ltd.
The meeting will be chaired by Rita Payne, President Emeritus, Commonwealth Journalists Association.
The event will be graced by Y K Sinha , High Commissioner of lndia to the United Kingdom, Lord Sheikh, and Virendra Sharma, MP, Ealing Southhall, UK.