Guwahati: It's not a regular van that transports goods or people from one place to another. This special van, conceptualised and developed by Aaranyak, a wildlife NGO, spreads awareness on conservation of Manas National Park and its surrounding areas.

"The van, launched recently, is equipped with conservation materials, banners and display and documentary items such as projector, generator and sound system. It has been modified to carry all the equipment of a small laboratory for on-site demonstration. The provision to carry a folding tent is also there so that educational materials can be put on display at any place," said Bibhuti Lahkar, who is associated with the NGO's Manas Tiger Conservation Programme.

"The van's exterior surface has been decorated with drawings of local flora and fauna to draw people's attention. On-the-spot awareness programmes are being conducted at community gatherings. The outer side has been designed to create a permanent image of the park's entire landscape on people's mind," he added.

The Manas Tiger Conservation Programme is a joint initiative of Aaranyak and the forest department of Bodoland Territorial Council in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Trust (Mumbai), Panthera (USA) and Awely (France), which are working on wildlife conservation. It is supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and KfW, a German government-owned development bank. "As part of the programme, a conservation theatre is being conceptualised to spread awareness among illiterate and lowly-educated target groups. With the help of some experienced drama personalities of the region, the theatre is being developed where a group of around 15 local youths will perform. Dramas, based on modern conservation messages, will be staged. The van will be used extensively for shows, covering an audience of around 30,000," Lakhar said.

He said programmes will be held in schools too. "The van will play a vital role in involving students in this endeavour," he added.