BTC deputy chief Kampha Borgoyary during the 57th Wildlife Week celebrations in Kokrajhar on Saturday. Picture by Preetam Brahma Choudhury

Kokrajhar/Guwahati, Oct. 1: For all those who care to conserve the golden langur, this is their chance to kick the ball.

Local youths are showing concern for golden langurs by participating in the football tournament, Golden Langur Trophy, which started today. The finals will be held in Kokrajhar on Monday.

Panjit Basumatary of Wildlife Trust of India said a cycle rally will also be held from Kokrajhar town to Nayekgaon rubber garden in the vicinity of Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary on Monday.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the 57h Wildlife Week celebrations at Choraikhola, Kokrajhar, the deputy chief of Bodoland Territorial Council, Kampha Borgoyary, said the golden langur was found only in this part of the region and Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary was the only sanctuary created to preserve them. He said it was the duty of the local people to protect the endangered species and its habitat and participate in the conservation of forests.

The celebrations in Kokrajhar will continue till Monday.

The programme has been organised by the BTC forest department in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Wildlife Trust of India .

Divisional forest officer, Haltugaon, C. Ramesh, said the people of the region can take pride that the golden langur was available here.

“The forest has given us so much and it is our duty to preserve it. The more we preserve it, the more we get from it,” he said.

The state-level function of 57th Wildlife Week was also held in Guwahati with forest officials calling upon people to work for conservation. “Nature has given so much to Assam and we must conserve it to the fullest,” the chief wildlife warden of Assam, Suresh Chand, said in Guwahati.

Altogether 45 persons were felicitated for their services to wildlife conservation in Guwahati.

In Manas, more than 900 youths participated in a 15km bicycle rally today. “Such a long bicycle rally has been held in Manas after a long time and holds importance as the park has now got back the status of world heritage site,” a forest official said.

He said the population of rhinos, tigers and elephants was on the rise. “The number of tigers in Assam is 143 at present. The next phase of tiger monitoring will be held soon, which might give a better picture. Cameras will be placed in a better position,” he said.

The population of swamp deer in Kaziranga has also increased and translocated rhinos in Manas are doing fine.