Conservation Awareness Programme Organized at Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

Aaranyak, one of Northeast India’s leading biodiversity conservation organisations, in collaboration with several partner bodies, recently organised an extensive awareness programme at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam’s Morigaon district. The programme, held under the theme “Conservation and Coexistence,” was designed with the objective of sensitising school students, teachers, local villagers, and tourist guides about the urgent need to protect biodiversity, address climate change, and promote sustainable coexistence with wildlife.

The initiative was supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Commission on Education and Communication (IUCN CAG) and was jointly carried out with the Pobitora Sanctuary authority and local non-governmental organisation SHIPA. Through this collaborative effort, the organisers hoped to strengthen grassroots awareness while building a sense of responsibility among communities living in proximity to the sanctuary.

The programme was structured into two major components: outdoor exposure activities and indoor interactive sessions. During the outdoor exposure trip, participating students were guided through the sanctuary to closely observe its diverse and seasonal flora and fauna. A highlight of this session was the opportunity to see the Greater One-Horned Rhino, the species for which Pobitora is globally recognised. Experts accompanying the students explained how climate change, floods, and irregular rainfall patterns are adversely affecting both the ecosystem and the livelihoods of local communities. Additionally, special emphasis was laid on the threats to rhino habitats caused by unplanned developmental activities such as indiscriminate road and bridge construction in the region.

Following the outdoor exposure, the indoor session was designed to foster interactive learning and creative reflection. Students engaged in drawing and quiz competitions that were based on their field observations. These activities not only tested their knowledge but also encouraged them to translate their learnings into creative expressions, thereby deepening their connection to conservation themes.

In total, around 60 students participated in the event, representing educational institutions such as Mayang High School, Minerva Academy, Lokapriya GNB High School, and Shankardev Shishu Niketan. Alongside the students, six teachers, ten local villagers, and several tourist guides also joined the programme, ensuring representation from different sections of the community.

The awareness programme benefitted from the presence of several resource persons who shared their expertise and experiences with the participants. Notable among them was Dr. Deba Kumar Dutta, Deputy Director of Aaranyak’s Rhino Research and Conservation Division, who provided insights into rhino ecology and conservation challenges. Members of NGO SHIPA, namely Binod Deka and Nripen Nath, also contributed significantly. Forest officials such as Naurattam Deka and Mitul Das enriched the session with their practical knowledge of sanctuary management, while local tourist guide Umesh Deka shared ground-level experiences of guiding visitors through Pobitora. The entire programme was coordinated by Aaranyak official Ujjal Bayan, with logistical and field support provided by K9 unit handler Rupak Bora and volunteers Ayush Debnath and Jomi Ronchar.

Organisers concluded by stressing that conservation cannot be achieved in isolation; instead, it requires the active participation of young learners and local communities. They emphasised that engaging students at an early age, along with involving villagers and guides who directly interact with the sanctuary, is crucial for fostering a culture of long-term stewardship. Such initiatives, they said, will play a vital role in ensuring that Pobitora’s fragile ecosystem and its globally significant wildlife species remain protected for future generations.