Adventure & Wildlife Magazine - Vol 1|Issue 5-6| Nov 16 - Jan 17 Vol 2 | Issue 1 | Mar - May 2017 | Page 11

ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
During the off-season, Gogoi assists in patrolling and
anti-poaching activities. His day, which starts at 6 in the
morning, usually involves moving through the park on
foot, elephant or boat.
In recent months, conservation efforts in the region
have come under scrutiny due to a BBC documentary
alleging that forest guards at the Kaziranga
National Park are given “shoot-at-sight” powers. Calling
for a broader understanding of the human-wildlife conflict,
critics have argued that forest guards – foot soldiers in
the war against poaching – are mostly underpaid and
overworked.
Among the other awardees recognised this year
were Delhi - based bird watcher Nikhil Devasar,
photojournalist Kalyan Varma, bird veterinarian
Rina Dev, Keoladeo National Park deputy conservator
Bijo Joy and lifetime conservationist Bholu Abrar Khan.
The award, instituted by leading optics manufacturer
Zeiss, is now in its 17th year. Conservationists from all
walks of life had flocked in Delhi for the evening.
Gogoi left the capital the day after, on an early morning
flight. He had an award in his kitty, but sadly, not the
promise of a regular job.
Source: Hindustan Times
People from various sections of the wildlife
conservation space came together at the Zeiss Awards.
Birds at Nameri
photo credit: http://www.hindustantimes.com
Nameri National Park is a national park in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in the Sonitpur District of Assam, India, about 35 km from
Tezpur. Nameri is about 9 km from Chariduar, the nearest village. Nameri shares its northern boundary with the Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary
of Arunachal Pradesh. Together they constitute an area of over 1000 km2 of which Nameri has a total area of 200 km2.
Etymology: The park was declared a reserve forest on 17 October 1978. It was set up as a Nameri Sanctuary on 18 September 1985 with
an area of137 km2 as a part of Naduar Forest Reserve. Until then the Nameri National Park was heavily used for logging. Another 75 km2
was added on 15 November 1998 when it was officially established as a National Park. The Jia Bhoroli river of Assam was famous since the
time of British for the golden mahseer angling.
Flora: The vegetation type of nameri is of semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests with cane and bamboo brakes and narrow strips of open
grassland along rivers. The forests are rich in epiphytes, lianas, and creepers and clump-forming bamboo. This forest has over 600 species.
Some notable species are Gmelina arborea, Michelia champaca, Amari, Chukrasia tabularis, Ajar, Urium poma, Bhelou, Agaru, Rudraksha,
Bonjolokia, Hatipolia akhakan, hollock, Nahor. It is home for orchids like Dendrobium, Cymbidium and Cypripedioideae.
Fauna: This is excellent elephant country and was considered to be an elephant reserve. It is an ideal habitat for a host of other animals
including the tiger, leopard, sambar, dhole (the Asiatic wild dog), pygmy hog, Indian wild bison, clouded leopard, leopard cat, muntjac,
gaur, wild boar, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, capped langur and Indian giant squirrel. Nameri is a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 300
species. The white winged wood duck, great pied hornbill, wreathed hornbill, rufous necked hornbill, black stork, ibisbill, blue-bearded
bee-eaters, babblers, plovers and many other birds make Nameri their home.
Tourism attractions: Angling at Nameri: This park is full of rivers. Fishing is the famous activity which is held by forest department. The
golden mahseer fish is famous in these region where they grown to 3-9 feet. They are known as “tigers of the Himalayan rivers”. Angling
has been suspended by local park authority under the Wildlife Protection Act as this habitat is now a Save the Tiger Project site. Nameri
River Rafting is held at southeast of the park on river Jia Bharali. The rafting is up to 13 km around 3 hours. Nameri Wildlife Trekking is
an amazing experience in these park. An armed forest department worker guides the trekking.
Vol 2|Issue 1|Mar - May 2017
11