Back to their habitat

Sept. 25: People’s power at the grassroots level is making all the difference to conservation of biodiversity in the Bodo heartland.

The signboard of the Biodiversity Conservation Society sums it up neatly as “the society for conservation of biodiversity, nature and community”.

The society, based in Ultapani, north of Kokrajhar near the Indo-Bhutan border, is doing a commendable job in preserving forest and wildlife resources in the area.

The society, floated by the local people, now has 45 full-time volunteers belonging to the neighbouring forest villages of Ultapani-Labanyapur area of Haltugaon forest division.

It also has local villagers as members while the gaon buras (village heads) are the advisers. “The society has banned felling of trees, poaching and similar activities in the forest. We are doing whatever little we can do to conserve forest resources,” explained Mangalsing Gurung, its president.

Formed a few months ago in March this year, members of the society have so far seized 18 bullock carts, three hand-drawn carts, 75 cycles as well as 22 buffaloes and bullocks. “Felling of trees and poaching have declined considerably after the volunteers took up the task of looking after the forest with help from the forest department,” said A. Daimary, a nature lover from Kokrajhar.

As a result, he now frequently comes across wild animals roaming about freely when he visits the area. Different species of birds, too, are being sighted. Ultapani is also home to the golden langur. It has tigers, leopards, elephants, wild boar, capped langurs, deer, squirrels and hornbills, while valuable flora include sal trees, mosses, ferns and orchids.

Tourists who visited the area recently said they saw deer, elephants and golden langurs, beautiful butterflies as well as hornbills and peacocks.

It is also well known for Na Bhandar, a natural water reservoir teeming with fish.