Elephant depredation increasing in Morongi

GOLAGHAT, Jan 10: The elephant depredation has been increasing in entire Morongi mouza within Golaghat district since 1998. The people of about 100 villages have to spend sleepless nights due to the depredation of the wild elephants. The wild elephants coming in a herd consisting of 80 to 100 began to damage standing crops, dwelling houses. In Miripathar Kumar Basti area within Morongi mouza, dwelling houses and store houses of paddy were damaged by the elephants. A youth of 30 years was injured by the elephants when he went to the nearby forest for collecting timber. [AT]

Elephants kill 3 in Karbi Anglong

DIPHU, Jan 12: Rampaging wild elephants have killed three female members of a family, including two minors, in Karbi Anglong district. [AT]

No let-up in rhino poaching in Kaziranga

GOLAGHAT, Jan 17: Poaching of rhinos in Kaziranga National Park is increasing day by day. Several rhinos were killed by poachers during a period of three months. [AT]

Arunachal timber worth Rs 10 cr seized near Delhi

SHILLONG, Jan 21:The police and the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF), hot on the illegal Northeast timber trail, have seized 86 wagonload of timber from the Nangloi and Madhepur railway stations near Delhi, last week. [NED]

Deforestation on in Udalguri

UDALGURI, Jan 22: Most of the forest reserve area of Udalguri Sub-division is in a state of rapid deforestation caused by anti-social elements since long. [AT]

Elephants kills 82-yr-old woman

JORHAT, Jan 22: An 82-year-old woman, Ms Sorumoni Chutia was killed by a wild elephant at village Lahing Nasaparia under Teok police station this morning. [S]

Reserved forests areas without guards

GUWAHATI, Jan 25: Reserved forests of the State are safe havens for militants and timber smugglers. Leaving some sensitive areas of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and Manas National Park, almost all other reserved forest areas of Assam have been left unmanned. [S]

Noise pollution posing threat in city

GUWAHATI, Jan 30: Along with the other pollution related problems, the State capital is now being threatened by the menace of noise pollution. A recent study conducted by the State Pollution Control Board has found that noise pollution levels in most parts of the city under study had high pollution levels, much higher than the accepted level. [AT]

Encroachers attack forest officials, 5 hurt

NAGAON, Feb 1: Five employees of the Forest Department, including a Ranger were injured when agroup of over 1,000 people, including encroachers of forest land attacked them at Nakhuti forest area yesterday.[S]

Nagaland IAS officer, 4 others arrested for killing animals

GUWAHATI, Feb 13: Vihili Sekhose (IAS), Secretary of Art and Culture Department of Nagaland Government and four other government employees were arrested on Saturday by Assam Forest authorities for killing a number of rare animals in a reserve forest near the Kaziranga National Park, reports UNI. [AT]

Elephants creating havoc in several areas in Sonitpur

TEZPUR, Feb 14: A herd of elephants are creating havoc in the different parts of greater Tezpur in Sonitpur district. According to sources, at least 150 dwelling houses at Besseria, Parbetia, Holeshwar, Millanpur etc. were destroyed besides causing extensive damages to the paddy and sugarcane fields. [AT]

Three smugglers arrested

GOLAGHAT, Feb 18: A team of forest officials led by Partha Sarathi Das, DFO, Kaziranga National Park arrested three youths connected with smuggling of rhino horns. [S]

Encroachment bodes ill for rhinos

GUWAHATI, Feb 18: Encroachment of land within the Kaziranga National Park and erosion due to floods are the main causes for the decline in the rhinoceros population. [TT]

'Smugglers one up against ill-equiped forest guards'

JORHAT, Feb 22: The forest guards and the Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) personnel are engaged in an unequal battle with the timber smugglers. The forest guards are mostly ill-equipped, having only machets or spears while the AFPF are equipped with double-barrelled guns used to chase elephants. On the contrary, the smugglers are equipped with AK-47. There are only 600 AFPF personnel in the State distributed in all the State forest reserves, which form 33 per cent of the State's land. [S]

IAS officer, 5 others granted bail

GUWAHATI, Feb 23: The Gauhati High Court today granted bail to Sri V Sekhose, IAS and five others, who were arrested on February 12, by the Bokakhat Police and the forest staff of Numaligarh beat office for alleged hunting of monkeys and wild birds near Deopahar reserve forest. [AT]

Rhinos being pushed to extinction

GOLAGHAT, Feb 24: A growing demand for rhino horns in east India and its barter for arms by the extremists of the region are pushing the Indian one-horned rhinoceros to the brink of extinction, says a Traffic India report. Rhino horns, which can fetch upto Rs 8 lakh per kg are bartered by the North-east militants with the poaching syndicates in Nagaland and neighbouring Myanmar for arms. Some evidence of such exchange came to light in Manas, the report said, adding that Assamese and Naga ultras sell the horns to fund their activities. [S]

North Lakhimpur town threatened by unabated encroachment

NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Feb 25: The continous unabated encroachment of the rivers Gariajan and Somdini since a long time has been causing serious water logging problem as well as other environment-related problems for the growing North Lakhimpur town. [AT]

Wild elephants wreak havoc in Morongi mouza

GOLAGHAT, March 1: The people of one hundred villages of Morongi mouza have been spending sleepless nights due to depredation by wild elephants since December last year. The herd of more than 50 elephants damaged dwelling houses and destroyed crops in Miripather, Kumar Basti and Naga Kota areas. Recently the elephants damaged more than seven granaries. A youth was injured by the elephants, which also destroyed several labour quarters of the Bogidhola tea garden. [AT]

Forest personnel fire in air to disperse mob

GUWAHATI, March 3: A posse of Forest Protection Force personnel had to resort to firing several rounds in the air to disperse an irate mob that tried to harass them following a dispute about illegal earth cutting at Lathia Bagicha of North Guwahati at about 3 this afternoon. [AT]

Gas from Digboi refinery posing health threat

DIGBOI, March 4: Digboi oil town is stated to be one of the most polluted industrial towns in India. Besides pollution of air, water and land, occasional fires inside and outside Digboi Refinery as well as blast of plant/unit have been causing concern to the Digboi public. [AT]

Killing of birds at Kumarjan resented

DERGAON, March 7: At a time when the government is initiating various steps for protection of wildlife in the State, the destructive acts of some unscrupulous persons tend to act as an impediment to those efforts. Such an incident that occurred at Kumarjan recently has come to light. [AT]

BSF jawan abets smugglers

SHILLONG, March 9: The Meghalaya forest department has accused a section of the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel of aiding and abetting smugglers to tranship illegal timber to Bangladesh. [TT]

277 families evicted from forest land

BISWANATH CHARIALI, March 15: A total of 277 families were evicted from the Joypur area of Biswanath Reserve Forest under Pub-Sonitpur Forest Division yesterday. [S]

Threat to forest cover, rare fauna at Kachugaon

KACHUGAON, March 15: Defying the Supreme Court ban, some unscrupulous timber traders have started destroying forest area in Kachugaon and its adjacent areas on the Indo-Bhutan border. This has been causing tremendous environment-related problems to the rare animals in this region. Animals like the world famous golden langur found in this forest have been declining in number gradually, due to lack of a suitable atmosphere. [AT]

Encroachment

GOLAGHAT, March 19: Suspected Bangladeshis numbering one thousand two hundred families have encroached lands of reserved forest of the Kaziranga National Park. It may be mentioned here that the suspected Bangladeshis have been staying and constructing dwelling houses, but the forest department is yet to take steps against the encroachers till now. [AT]

Pachyderm hurt in encounter

SONARI, March 19: An elephant received bullet injuries in an encounter between timber smugglers and forest guards at Abhaypur reserve forest in Sivasagar district last night. [S]

Save golden langur mission stuck in bureacratic maze

GUWAHATI, March 19 : The golden langurs of Kakoijona reserve forest do not grapple with bureaucratic maze, but a non-governmental organization fighting for the endangered monkeys is feeling more and more frustrated with the red tape. [NED]

Rougue elephant tramples five to death

DIBRUGARH, March 21 : A domesticated male elephant has trampled five persons to death since Monday morning at the Kutuha area near here, causing panic and furore in the locality. Irate citizens today blocked the Dibrugarh-Guwahati national highway for five hours from 10 am today, demanding the district administration to declare the pachyderm rouge and have it shot dead. [AT]

Killer elephant shot dead

DIBRUGARH, March 24 (PTI): The domestic elephant which created havoc in Dibrugarh district of Assam this week has been shot dead after it trampled to death five persons and injured two others, according to official sources here today. [S]

Wild elephant mauls one to death

KAMPUR, March 26: According to reports received one Boluram (50) of Singimari Lowar Colony has been mauled to death by wild elephant on March 15 last. [S]

Large-scale encroachment of forest areas in upper Assam

JORHAT, March 26: The present forest reserve lands in the State has now been mostly under human occupation and is fast being converted to human habitats. About 1500,000 Sq Km out of 2800,000 Sq Km forest reserves have been encroached. About two lakh people have settled on the encroachment areas of Rengma and Namber forest reserve in Golaghat and Diphu forest reserve in Karbi Anglong. [S]

Massive encroachment in forest lands

JORHAT, March 28: About 1500 square kilometre area in Upper Assam forest circle is under encroachment out of the total area of 2800 sq km excluding the Kaziranga National Park. [AT]

200 families evicted from forest

JORHAT, March 28: About 200 families have been evicted from Namchai Reserve Forest in Digboi along the Assam-Arunachal border in the past three days, Forest Department sources, said, adding that the drive against encroachers would continue till the forest was freed from all the encroachers. [S]

Tea plantations luring Nagas to encroach on state forest land

JORHAT, March 28: Tea plantation has been the ultimate objective behind the alleged encroachment of the States land along the 101 km Assam-Nagaland border in the Jorhat district by the Nagas. Almost 80 per cent of the three forest reserves in the district are presently under encroachment by the Nagas. A survey conducted in 1991 showed, as many as 13 Naga villages, 12 LP Schools, two ME Schools, one High School, three churches, water supply schemes, etc, thriving in the encroached portion of the Disoi Valley forest reserve. [S]

Smoke causing problems for flight landing

AIZAWL, March 31: At Mizoram's Lengpui airport poor visibility of a different kind is making landing of aircraft difficult for the pilots. It is not the canopy of thick clouds which usually envelopes the runway during monsoon but smoke generated by the burning of bamboo forests by Jhum or shifting cultivators around the airport. [AT]

Eviction drive at chariduar reserve forest

TEZPUR, April 2: In an eviction drive the forest department has demolished about 250 unauthorised thatched houses at Chardiuar reserve forest near Nameri National Park in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur district on Saturday last, inform official sources. [AT]

Forets official suspended

NAGAON, April 2: Mr Arun Borah, a forest beat officer of Kondoli reserve forest, was placed under suspension by the DFO Nagaon, on March 31, for his alleged involvement on issue of false TP to traders. [S]

Rhino killed

BOKAKHAT, April 5: According to a delayed report, a forest guard of Nawbhangi camp under Kahara range had to shoot a rhino to death in the range in order to save himself from the rhino's attack on March 26. The forest department recovered the horn afterwards. [S]

Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in shambles

NAGAON, APRIL 6 : The Laokhowa wildlife sanctuary tucked away in one of the remotest corner of Nagaon district which once used to thrive with wildlife is now in a deplorable condition. [NED]

Caracass of barking deer seized

ITANAGAR, April 7: The Forest officials here detected and seized carcass of barking deer, in the capital complex, kept ready for sale at local Naharlogun market, reports UNI. [AT]

Tiger killed

BISWANATH CHARIALI, April 11: A tiger had created much panic at the Diring Tea Estate killing a tea garden labourer Joynath at the line No. 26, and a homeguard personnel Bisweswar Narah, 30, yesterday evening. Finding no alternative the forest guards who fired 51 rounds to drive the tiger into the forest, had to shoot and kill it ultimately. [S]

Pollution is slowly but surely chocking Guwahatians

GUWAHATI, April 19: Everyday, hundreds of aging buses, shrouded in black exhaust fumes, thunder along the roads of Guwahati, scattering horn-tooting auto-rickshaws and cars. They rumble past ragpickers and labourers cooking meals or sleeping on the pavements, and cover them with a thick layer of dust. [NED]

Rhino faces extinction at Orang sanctuary

UDALGURI, April 20: The one-horned rhino, found only in Assam, is now on the verge of extinction at the Rajiv Gandhi sanctuary in Orang mainly due to poaching and harmful activities by encroachers. According to a census conducted in 1991, there were 100 rhinos in the sanctuary but during the census conducted in 1994-95, the Forest department found only 52 rhinos. This downward graph indicates that population of rhinos decreased by 48 in four years. [AT]

Leopards create panic in Jorhat

JORHAT, April 24: The people of Chenigan, Hatigarh and Kachogoral villages in Ladoigarh are living in a state of dread due to frequent prowls of a leopard and her two cubs. The people here have appealed to the forest department as well as the district administration to initiate prompt steps to curb this leopard menace. [NED]

Body of rhino recovered

BOKAKHAT, May 1: The forest guard of Kaziranga National Park recovered a dead rhino that had natural death on April 27. The horn of the rhino weighing about 2 kg was also recovered from the body. [S]

Wild elephant kills three

NAGAON, May 3: Wild elephant killed three persons of a family at Samuthi Tea Estate, under Samaguri police station on the night of April 30. The persons killed by the elephant has been identified as Singa Tanti (45) and his wife Bina Tanti (40) and their daughter Minati Tanti (20). [S]

500 families evicted from reserved forests

KOKRAJHAR, May 4: The forest department has evicted more than 500 families from Bangaldova reserve forest land in Kokrajhar district. According to the forest department these people suddenly came in and put up makeshift houses. [AT]

Financial crisis hits Pollution Control Board

GUWAHATI, May 4: At a time when a global concern has been expressed over the growing environmental pollution on the earth, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has been facing acute financial hardship and it is feared that if some expeditious remedial measures are not taken to remove the vast difference between the revenue and expenditure of the board, it will face closure in the near future. [AT]

Assam to turn into a heat-zone in next decade

GUWAHATI, May 5: Assam will turn into a severe heat-cum-drought zone in less than a decade from now if the reckless denuding of the forests, which has been going on without any let or hindrance since the past two decades, is not contained by firm politico-administrative actions now, circles concerned feel. [S]

Jobless Assam jumbos up for sale

JORHAT, May 8: Some sell jobs. Mitharam Sonowal sells those who need jobs. In other words, he sells the "unemployed" to those who have jobs. Yes, Sonowal's business is big. As big as the elephants he deals with. Following the Supreme Court ban, which prohibited felling and movement of timber in the Northeast, Sonowal hit on this novel idea about how to sell elephants which found themselves jobless since then. The court ban may come as a boon for environmentalists but hundreds of elephants involved with the timber industry have been left without a job. [TT]

City going metro way, slums mushrooming, authority clueless

GUWAHATI, May 9: Miles and miles of squalid slums dot the Guwahati cityscape. The rate at which slums have sprouted in this capital city over the years is appalling. Architects and environmentalists smirk at the very mention of this ugly growth, while the local civic body and the district administration remain clueless as ever about how to stem the rot, as it were. [NED]

Severe erosion grips Kaziranga : Satellite data

GUWAHATI, May 11: Kaziranga National Park, the home of Indian one-horned rhinoceros, has undergone severe erosion due to recurring annual floods. Post-flood data acquired by Indian remote sensing satellite IRS 1 D reveals that the park area has shrunk by more than 51 square kilometre in the past three decades. This conclusion was arrived at by comparing the base map of the park prepared from the Survey of India topographic map of 1967-68 with the geocoded IRS data. [AT]

Irate mob kill domesticated elephant

GUWAHATI, May 12 (UNI): In a bizarre and unprecedented incident, an irate mob of nearly 200 people attacked a domesticated elephant, which had become uncontrollable of late, near Mirza yesterday and killed it after a two-hour-long cruel battle with sharp weapons. [S]

How Assam contributed to killing of headman, tusker

JUPAMBARI (Mirza), May 13: It was utter negligence on the part of the authorities at the Assam State Zoo which led to the barbaric killing of Lalbahadur, a 40-year-old domesticated elephant, by an irate mob at Jupambari under Palashbari police station in Kamrup district on Thursday. An investigation by The Northeast Daily has brought to light the fact that the lives of both the 4.5-ton tusker and the village headman of Kathalguri, Sobharam Rabha, who was killed by the rouge elephant, could have been saved had the zoo authorities acted in time. [NED]

Poachers call the shots at Orang, Govt not bothered

DHEKIAJULI, May 16: Orang National Park situated 15 km from Dhekiajuli - the only wild sanctuary under Tezpur division and best known for its one horn Rhinos - once used to throb with a large number of wild animals. However, now due to the sloppy attitude of the government death pock marks the region. During the last few years the Orang National Park has lost many valuable wild animals like Rhinoceros, Tigers etc. But nothing has been done to stop all this. [NED]

Oil pipe leakage causes pollution

NAZIRA, May 21: Severe environment pollution is on at the Galeki area following leakage of crude oil from the drilling site No. DSG 394 near the DGS No. 1 at the Galeky oil field, since May 17. Despite a written complaint to the ONGC authorities nothing is said to be done to stop the leakage. [S]

Paramilitary Force to be deployed in Kaziranga

GUWAHATI, May 22: The State Forest Department has hailed Union Environment Ministry's nod for deployment of paramilitary force personnel in Kaziranga and Manas national parks in the state. [AT]

Serious water crisis likely in city

GUWAHATI, May 22: Water and meteorological experts have warned that the burgeoning population in Guwahati, while straining the underground water resources, may cause a serious water crisis in the State capital in the future. Added to this, the increasing pollution of the surface water sources is gradually rendering them unfit for human consumption. [AT]

Assam timber sale loss : Rs 10 cr; stocks rot

GUWAHATI, May 21: The Assam forest department has disposed off 44,000 cubic meters of valuable timber at "throwaway" prices and incurred losses of over Rs 10 crore during the last three years, while timber worth over Rs 4.5 crore is still rotting at different reserve forest and forest offices all over the state. [NED]

Concern over felling of trees

NAGAON, May 22: Felling of precious trees like sal, teak, gomari etc. in the Laokhowa sanctuary by timber smugglers has made with forests in the area devoid of the valuable trees. Mr Brajen Kakoty, secretary, the Hindu Yuba Chatra Parishad, Assam alleged that the sanctuary had been a haven for the miscreants. This devastation of the sanctuary has been carried out under the leadership of an ex-minister by his followers, the Parishad alleged. It is complained that a section of the forest workers and police are involved in the act. [S]

Forest Guard-Smuggler encounter

JORHAT, May 25: An encounter between forest guards and timber smugglers took place at Abhaypur reserve forest under Sonari subdivision along the Assam-Nagaland border yesterday. However, no one has been injured in the shoot-out. The smugglers fled towards Nagaland. [S]

Discrimination against workers alleged

GUWAHATI, May 29: The muster roll workers employed by the Forest Department, Government of Assam, despite the minimum wages revised notification, have not been paid the monthly salary at the rate of Rs 1,450 and are still getting Rs 900 per month, a press release said. [S]

Timber smuggler creates hell for border area people

JORHAT, June 2: Despite the court ban on felling of trees and its supply thereof, the people in Bekajan and Panikheti areas in the Assam-Nagaland border in the Jorhat district are silent witness to large-scale log smuggling which is rampant in the area. [S]

Timber smuggler nabbed

TINSUKIA, June 3: A team of forest officials led by Ranger Ranjit Dutta of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park nabbed a timber smuggler, one Devi Prasad Sharma of Arunachal Pradesh during a routine patrolling in Singhibeen area of the National Park. [S]

Assam's rare turtle faces extinction in Cachar habitat

SILCHAR, June 4: A rare species of freshwater turtles, commonly known as Ganges Softshell (scientific name: Trionyx gangeticus) is facing extinction in Assam. Human rapacity coupled with apathy of the authorities concerned have been slowly but surely pushing this species to its last days. They nestle in large numbers at a particular season on the banks of Rukni river near Dholai in Cachar. [NED]

While Guwahati celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 with rest of the cities in the country, a view of the City's busy Paltan Bazar area tells a different story. The Assam Tribune photo.

Oil units pollute Kaziranga; Delhi deputes team

GUWAHATI, June 7: A high-level Central Pollution Control Board team led by its member-secretary visited the Kaziranga National Park to make an on the spot study on the effects of the Numaligarh refinery (NRL) on the park's environment. The team was also accompanied by scientists from the Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB). [NED]

2 rhinos killed in Pobitara

GUWAHATI, June 7: Two rhinos including a calf were killed by poachers inside Pobitara Wildlife Sanctuary in Marigaon District on June 3 last, according to a delayed report received here from an NGO. It is learnt that a group of poachers first shot dead a female rhino which was with its calf. After killing the mother rhino the poachers tried to cut its horn, the calf tried to resist and was subsequently killed by the poachers, sources informed. [AT]

Orang Wildlife Sanctuary in grip of encroachers

TEZPUR, June 8: The Rajiv Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary popularly known as the Orang Sanctuary established in 1915 in Sonitpur and Darrang districts and home of the famous one horned Asiatic rhino after the Kaziranga National Park is today in dire straits due to unabated influx by foreign nationals, who have occupied large area of the sanctuary during the last few years, under the very nose of the State Government and the forest department. [AT]

Rhinos could become extinct as fund crunch hits Kaziranga

KAZIRANGA, June 8 (IANS): The internationally renowned Kaziranga National Park in Assam may prove to be the last Eden for the nearly extinct one-horned rhinoceros as an acute fund crunch is impeding anti-poaching operations. The fund crunch is also affecting the sanctuary's upkeep, official sources said. [S]

Birds disappearing from Barak valley, thanks to man's lust for meat

SILCHAR, June 9: Vultures have completely disappeared from the skyline of Barak Valley. So are vanishing spotted dove, black drango, blue-legged bustard, quill, king fisher, green-breasted pitta, green pigeon, hornbill and the list continues. Sighting of migratory birds in the wetlands of this valley are becoming rare. Trapping and killing of birds are being carried out by man to satiate his lust for the soft-meat. [S]

Female deity saviour for poachers and rangers in KNP

KZIRANGA, (Assam), June 10(IANS): For both poachers and forest rangers in the wilds of the Kaziranga National Park in India's north-eastern State of Assam, a female deity is the saviour. Legend has it that a revered Hindu goddess, locally known as Kakomai, is the presiding deity in the 430-square-kilometre park, home to one of the largest populations of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. [S]

Floods in Assam threaten wildlife reserve

KAZIRANGA, June 14(IANS): Forest rangers in a world famous wildlife sanctuary here have been put on an alert with flood waters threatening to submerge the park, official sources said today. [S]

Army seizes timber worth Rs 2 lakh

BONGAIGAON, June 14: Mobile check-posts established by Army troops operating in Kokrajhar district seized a truck load of sal timber on June 11, which was being smuggled from Chirang Reserve Forest. [S]

Kaziranga staff alerted as flood menace begins

GUWAHATI, June 14: Wildlife personnel have been put on maximum alert in Kaziranga National Park even as swirling flood water of Brahmaputra and its tributaries has inundated large areas of the sanctuary towards its north. [AT]

Rhino horn recovered, 2 held

GUWAHATI, June 15: Sonapur police yesterday recovered a rhino horn weighing about 650 grams from the house of one Akan Thakuria of Dipita Maheswari village under Sonapur police outpost and arrested Thakuria along with another miscreant Pradip Das. [AT]

Valuable logs seized

UDALGURI, June 21: The entire Barnadi and Nonai forest range and wildlife sanctuaries are in the grip of antisocial elements who have been engaged in felling of valuable trees in these two forest ranges even though Sri Prafulla Kumar Sahariah, the forest range officer of Nonai forest range has tried his best to restrict these elements to some extent. Due to his endless efforts, the forest officials of his range could seize a large number of valuable logs, bicycles, thelas and rickshaws in the neighbouring areas of Nonai forest range and from Tangla railway station. The forest officials have been able to seize 2,175 c.ft of valuable logs. [AT]

Killing trees -- IWT way

GUWAHATI, June 21: There can't be any debate over how vital the green cover for the city's atmosphere, which is fast becoming a concrete jungle. But it seems, the Inland Water Transport (IWT) department's boatmen are least bothered. They could not have cared less while following the practice of mooring their heavy vessels to the nearest available tree along the bank of Brahmaputra between Shukleswar and Bharalumukh. [AT]

An IWT vessel fastened to a tree ion the bank of Brahmaputra near Shukleswar Ghat in the city. Photo by Ritu Raj Konwar, The Assam tribune.

Elephants kill two

NUMALIGARH, June 23: A herd of wild elephants killed two persons of Bishnupur (near Numaligarh Refinery) on the night of June 17 and damaged several houses. [S]

Two killed by wild tuskers in Golaghat

GOLAGHAT, June 29: Two people were trampled to death by a group of wild elephants at Bisnupar village in upper Assam's Golaghat district. [NED]

Wild elephant tramples one

GUWAHATI, July 3: One Nirmal Sangma of Panikheti under the Chandrapur police station, died when he was chased and trampled by a wild elephant on Friday. [S]

A doctor attends to the leopard which was rescued from a well at Maligaon on July 2, at the State Zoo in the city on July 5. The Sentinel photo.

No funds for capturing pachyderms

JORHAT, July 7: In spite of government approval, no funds have been allotted for capturing wild elephants, reveal Forest Department sources. In the erstwhile Hulungapar forest area -- the present Gibbon sanctuary -- only one elephant has been captured since 1995-96. This has resulted in a lack of space in the sanctuary, forcing the pachyderms to move on to Numaligarh, Nagapahar, Geleki, and Deopani, where they have created a havoc. [S]

60,000 Chariduar tribals not counted in first phase of census

DHEKIAJULI, July 8: About 60 thousand tribal people residing in Charidur Reserve Forest has been left out in the first phase of census operation which was concluded last month by the state government. Following this the people of the area has filed a complain with the deputy commissioner and demanded immediate steps in this regard. [NED]

KNP elephants likely to starve

JORHAT, July 9: The fund-starved Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has been threatened by the suppliers that they will stop supplying food for elephants after July 15 if the authority fails to pay their dues. The KNP has Rs 12 lakh dues to be paid to the contractors supplying food for elephants. It may be mentioned that the 84 elephants employed for various works in the park need Rs 60,000 yearly. [S]

Pachyderm tramples one to death in Jorhat

JORHAT, July 10: One Lop Mundo (35) was trampled to death by a wild elephant on Sunday night at 7 A.M. in Naga Nadi village under Sonari subdivision in Sibsagar district, police sources said. Munda was returning from Sonari town when a wild elephant caught him with its trunk and trampled him to death. [NED]

Wild elephant kills one

TANGLA, July 11: The wild elephant menace in the northern parts of Darrang district, at least under the Paneri police station, is not a new phenomenon. Every year herds of wild animals visits the area and cause extensive damages to both lives and properties. During the sali paddy season of the year, the elephants come down the villages and nearly tea estates of the locality. This year, too, already a herd of about 12 wild elephants has started causing panic among the people of Majuli, Hatigarh, Bhutiasang tea estate, Ghagra, Ulubari, Majuli grant, Teliapara, Satgharia, Khairajangal, No.1 Bhutiasang and No.4 Bhutiasang areas. Meanwhile one aged person of about 65 years of village No.4 Bhutiasang has been killed by one makhana elephant of the herd. [S]

No doctor, medicines at Kaziranga PHC GOLAGHAT, July 12: The Kaziranga primary health centre is running without a doctor for a long time. This hospital which is supposed to serve the forest officials of the Kaziranga National Park, foreign tourists and villagers of the 50 villages, is now running with three employees and one fourth grade employee. The previous doctor was transferred to another hospital and after that no doctor has yet been appointed, alleged local people. [AT]

One tigress, 40 cheetals die in Tripura sanctuary

AGARTALA, July 16: A Royal Bengal tigress and 40 cheetal deer have died in Sipahijola Sanctuary in West Tripura district in the last two months, sources in Forest department said on Saturday. The tigress died of trypanosomiasis on July 7 last in a zoo of the sanctuary, the sources said, adding that the deer died of an unknown disease. [AT]

Tough time for storks: A group of greater adjutant stork standing in a garbage dump near a GMC truck for food in the city on July 16. Due to rapid destruction of wetlands these rare birds are nowadays fighting for their survival in congested city localities. Photo by Ritu Raj Konwar, Assam Tribune.

When love lorn male Nilgais die in fracas over females

SIPAHIJALA SANCTUARY (Tripura), July 16: Ten male nilagais, who locked horns fatally over proprietorial rights over females in the Sipahijala sanctuary, have died in fights, while the rising cost of maintenance have compelled the sterilisation of the population of 14 lions, because of a high birth rate. Wildlife warden CL Das told PTI that all the lovelorn male nilgais died in the course of a year in fracas over the females. The sanctuary has now only three female nilgais. [NED]

Move on to wind up forest college at Burnihat

GUWAHATI, July 20: At a time when the Central Government has been claiming in a full-throated manner that it is committed to the development of the north-eastern region of the country, a move is on to wind up the Forest College at Burnihat, which speaks volumes of the "commitment" of the Centre towards the development of the region. [AT]

The trainees hostel of the Burnihat Forest College has now virtually turned into a playground for children. Photo by Samarendra Sarma, The Assam Tribune.

Fund crunch hits forest research in State

GUWAHATI, July 23: Though the genesis of forest research in the State dates back to 1929 in the form of Silviculture research, the lack of funds for various research activities coupled with lack of motivation on the part of field-level officers have compelled the research wing of the State Forest Department to take a back seat. [S]

Two more killed by wild elephant

TANGLA, July 28: The wild elephant menace is a perennial problem in the northern parts of Darrang district. Meanwhile, one Baisagi Gore of village Khairajangal and one Samail Tuty of village Kachubil have been killed by wild elephant. [S]

Rhino killed accidentally in KNP

JORHAT, Aug 1: A rhino was killed accidentally by the forest guards in Bagori Range under Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on July 30. According to sources, the rhino came out to the road from the range and created a terror among the people in the area. The forest guards had to shoot in the air to scare it. But a bullet accidentally hit the rhino. [S]

235 bicycles recovered from reserve forest

MANGALDOI, Aug 2: The Forest department of Mangaldoi recently recovered 235 bicycles from fleeing offenders carrying illegal timber from Khalingaduar Reserve Forest under Nonai range of Darrang division. Giving details Sri M Hussain, DFO, Wildlife (Preservation), Mangaldoi, said that so far about 110 offenders of forest rules were apprehended this year and action against them was taken as per forest rules. [AT]

Wild elephant kills one

JAMUGURIHAT, Aug 4: One Dinu Rajbongshi (60) a resident of Khakanbasti, Bordikorai No.1 under Jamuguri PS was killed by wild elephant in his own bedstead while he was sleeping on Wednesday night. The elephant as reported, also destroyed the houses of five other families. [S]

People of suspected nationalities encroach Mahamaya reserved forest

GOLOKGANJ, Aug 6: The 9,914-hactare Mahamaya reserved forest in Dhubri district is under the occupation of the people of suspected nationalities, but neither the Forest Department nor the district administration seems to be aware of the fact. [S]

Chariduar Reserve Forest turns into a barren hill

DHEKIAJULI, Aug 8: At a time when the people and the NGOs all over the world are making a hue and cry over the global warming and deforestation and the governments are trying to conserve the forests in order to maintain a balance in the ecosystem, the Chariduar Reserve Forest in Sonitpur district along the Arunachal Pradesh is turning into a barren hill following felling of trees by the timber traders without any let or hindrance. [S]

Elephant kills mahut

MANGALDAI, Aug. 8: A mahut, Md Ataur Rahman was trampled to death by his own elephant at Naharbari village under Mangaldai police station today. [S]

Timber smugglers nabbed

CHHAYGAON, aug 18: In a joint nightlong operation, the Special Forest Protection Force, Boko range and Chhaygaon police has seized a huge quantity of teak timber log on August 9 midnight from the Kulchi river. Eight notorious timber smugglers including two SULFA men have also been apprehended along with the illegitimate timber logs. The two SULFA men have been identified as Nimai Saud (30) and Koshen Rabha (26) of Chhaygaon area. It is known that notorious SULFA Nimai Saud has been reported to be indulging in various anti-social activities also. [S]

5 timber smugglers gunned down

BILASIPARA, Aug 21: Five timber smugglers, including two women, were gunned down by suspected NDFB ultras with automatic weapons at Garobasra in Mahamaya forest range under Bagaribari PS in Dhubri district around 4.30 this morning. Police sources said that about 50 people hailing from Khamargaon were busy in felling sal trees when the ultras started firing killing five of them on the spot. [AT]

Timber industry hit by illegal felling of trees in Kokrajhar

GOSSAIGAON, Aug 27: Large-scale illegal felling of trees has hit hard the timber and other forest product-based industries in Kokrajhar district. Timber, cane, precious resources, of late, have become almost rare materials in the district. [AT]

Garampani on the verge of extinction

GOLAGHAT, Aug 28: Garampani, the hot water spring, which attracted a good number tourists is facing extinction due to apathy of the government. The spring situated in Golaghat-Dimapur road is an added attraction of Nambar forest reserve as the water always remains at a warm temperature. Previously, the authority concerned did give a sluice-gate there, to control the water flow and to evacuated the dirty waters as and when necessary. But since last few years none paid any attention and the gate has gone out of order. Recently, following heavy rain, water from nearby Nambar rivulet trickled to the spring and made the spring-water cool. [S]

Concern over unabated poaching in Manipur

IMPHAL Aug 29: The Manipur Government is reported to have initiated some feeble official actions against some police and forest officials for the failure to round up a tribal poacher who had sold the meat of three bears practically under their nose. A photograph and press release issued by People For Animals (Manipur chapter) establish beyond all reasonable doubts the criminal act of this poacher. [S]

Concern over gross neglect to Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary

GUWAHATI, Aug 29: Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary is one the richest wildlife sanctuaries in Assam as well as India, stated a press release. It is the only wildlife sanctuary of the undivided Goalpara district, but now located in the Dhubri district. The erstwhile Goalpara district was amazingly rich in forests and wildlife. Unfortunately, all the big forests of this region have been recklessly destroyed due to the extraction of timbers and other forest resources. [S]

Terrorized elephant creates panic in city GUWAHATI, Aug 29: An elephant washed away by the Brahmaputra from the Umananda Mandir to the Machkhowa Ghat of the river today created terror among the residents of Machkhowa area. The elephant injured a lady and damaged a Maruti car and a rickshaw at Machkhowa before it again jumped into the Brahmaputra to reach the shores at Amingaon. [S] A wild elephant, which was carried away by the Brahmaputra on August 29, 2000, moving towards the Army camp at Amingaon in the city. The Sentinel (L) and Asomiya Pratidin (R) photo.

Leopard cub rescued

GUWAHATI, Aug 30: Being driven out of their natural habitats due to large-scale deforestation, a two-month leopard cub that strayed into human habitat was rescued by a team of police patrol from the hills at the back of the State Guest House No. 1 at Khanapara last night. [AT]

Wild elephants create havoc

JAMUGURIHAT, Sept 3: A huge ward of wild elephants were out from Kajiranga Game Sanctuary and damaged the houses of 12 families of Gangmouthan Majgaon area September 1, causing huge loss to the families. [S]

Security Forces comb Assam sanctuary

GUWAHATI, Sept 4: Security forces today advanced deep into the Manas National Park to flush out Ulfa militants taking shelter in the wildlife sanctuary since fleeing their camps in Bhutan. Army, police and CRPF personnel cordoned off the park and its adjoining areas yesterday before launching a full-fledged offensive, director-general of police P.V. Sumant told The Telegraph. [TT]

Once a home now turns into a deathtrap for shelled reptiles

GUWAHATI, Sept 8 (PTI): Home to endangered species of tortoises and turtles, Barak Valley in South Assam is proving to be a virtual death trap for the shelled reptiles, which are being hunted grossly for their meat, warn environmentalists. [S]

Ultras kill three woodcutters

GOLAKGANJ, Sept 8: Suspected militants shot dead three woodcutters at Kalapahar forests under Mankachar police station along the Assam-Meghalaya border in Dhubri district yesterday. The three woodcutters have been identified as Sher Khalil (25), Lalchand Miyan (20) and Khuthi Mullah (40). Police later recovered their bodies. [S]

Elephant dies of poisoning

TURA, Sept 10: A baby elephant died near Tura when it accidentally consumed insecticides from a house in a private tea garden on August 28 near Rongram area. [AT]

Elephants destroy crops

BISWANATH CHARIALI, Sept 11: A few wild elephants which have let loose a reign of terror among the inhabitants of Baghmari, and Bihapukhuri areas have devastated innumerable plots of small tea garden plantation and vegetable gardens causing heavy loss to the cultivators. According to reports, three wild elephants had entered the Namripodhi Tea Concept, a mini tea garden on the night of September 8 and severely damaged the pucca house. They broke three windows and a pucca wall and consumed one bag of atta and one bag of wheat. [S]

Wild elephants on the rampage

JORHAT, Sept 12: A herd of wild elephants is causing large-scale depredations at Ashwinibil area adjoining Abhayapur reserve forest of Sonai since the last fortnight. The elephants which have so far destroyed more than 15 houses, also killed two cows on September 10. [S]

CPWD is engaged in cutting down a large number of trees on both sides of the National Highway 27 from Jalukbari to Khanapara in the city for the proposed VIP Road. The Assam Tribune photo.

Elephants cause havoc in Bokakhat subdivision

BOKAKHAT, Sept 15: The depredation caused by wild elephants in Bokakhat subdivision has been increasing day by day, with the people living in border area of Karbi Anglong and Golaghat district including vast tea garden areas at Numligarh Behora Lokhojan, Naharjan, Tipujan, etc, having to face the brunt of the menace. On the night of August 11 two wild elephants damaged the local collage, besides the kitchens of 15 residents on Nepalikhuti and Rajabari villages behind NH-37, 10 km from Bokakhat town. Some residents near Oriol Park Rajabari were also very badly affected. [AT]

Manas again under serious threat from ULFA, Bodo extremists

MANAS NATIONAL PARK, Sept 11: The wildlife in the 2,837-sq-km Manas National Park is again seriously threatened by terrorism and extremist violence as bands of ULFA and NDFB desperados, who are making desperate attempts to set up bases in the national park, have recreated the situation prevailing during 1989-98 period due to the Bodoland movement. It may be mentioned here that the park was closed to visitors during this long period as the Bodo extremists made the park their safe haven and set up firing ranges for target practice. The park was reopened for public in 1998 after the militants had been flushed out of the area in Army operations. [S]

Leopard, cubs die

JORHAT, Sept 20: A leopard and three cubs have died in Tinsukia forest division custody. The three cubs were caught by the labourers of Hazelbank tea estate, adjacent to the Dibru-Choikhowa reserve forest in Tinsukia district, two months ago. They were later handed over to the forest department. They died on August 29 and 31 and September 3 respectively. A leopard, caught by forest department employees from Verjan reserve forest in Tinsukia district on August 30 died two days later. [TT]

Militancy hits Manas National Park

GUWAHATI, Sept 21: Constant threat from militants frequent combing operations by security forces have thrown policing of wildlife out of gear in Manas National Park, a bio-diversity hot spot. [AT]

'NE witnessing gradual loss of forest cover'

NEW DELHI, Sept 27: The north eastern region has witnessed a continuous loss of forest cover for the last five years, with shifting cultivation identified as the main culprit for the loss, according to report 'State of Forest' by the Forest Survey of India. A maximum loss of 783 square km was recorded between 1993 and 1995, while there has been a gradual decline in loss since 1995, the report said, pointing towards the only positive sign. [AT]

Elephant at airport

GUWAHATI, Sept 29: A wild elephant kept officials at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport here on the tenterhooks for over half an hour this noon after it entered the airport premises. [AT]

Kohua -- the dwindling 'dancing cloud on the ground' GUWAHATI, Sept 29: Tender Kahua, the harbinger of autumn, is in peril. This lovely reed of the grass family, which grows along the water bodies and on low-altitude hills in bushes and unfurls its flag of snowy-white flowers to sway with the wind proclaiming the advent of autumn, will soon disappear into oblivion like the other endangered species of flora if the stereotype developments go on unchecked in Assam, now one of the bio-diversity hotspots on the earth. [AT] Photo: The Assam Tribune

Mela spreads noise pollution

BARPETA, Oct 14: A carnival, fete or circus in name but in reality a bonanza of public gambling has been allowed to run by the district authority at Barpeta Vidyapeeth Higher Secondary School field since October 1. The people running it starts their business from early evening and for hours together till night and the music system blares in its most barbaric way causing sound pollution. [S]

Lack of administration, undue interference hit ASTEC functioning

GUWAHATI, Oct 19: Faced with career stagnation and a non-committal administration, several senior officers of the Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) here have left the Council for other organisations and several others have been planning to be on the lookout for other organisations. [AT]

Smuggled timber seized

MANGALDAI, Oct 19: In stepped-up operations against the poachers and the forest smugglers launched by the Darrang Police have seized five unauthorized Saw mills on October 17 and about 230 cft sawn timber and logs were also seized in Tangla area. [S]

Two poachers nabbed in MFR

MANGALDAI, Oct 20: The forest official has recently arrested two poachers inside the jungles of Rowta Reserve Forest bordering Assam-Arunachal Pradesh and recovered two SBBL gun from their possession. They have been identified as Johan Munda and Issak Munda of Aattigarh Tea Estate under Parery police station. The operation was led by Mr Bharat Deka Forester I of Majbat Forest Range and it was learnt that both the accused have confessed their involvement in killing of elephant, deers and other wild animals in the forest since last two years. [S]

Arunachal crusader reforms poachers

ITANAGAR, Oct 20: A lone crusader against trapping of protected game in a wildlife sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh has reduced poaching drastically by reforming tribals into protecting the fauna. Only three cases of poaching was reported in the one and a half years since the Divisional Forest Officer and in-charge of the 826-sq km Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, Chukhu Loma, took over. [AT]

Two elephants electrocuted

JORHAT, Oct 27: Two wild elephants got electrocuted at Ligiribari are of Disangmukh under Sivasagar district. A herd of wild elephants were roaming in the area for last few days, said a local source. It is presumed that the two wild elephants uprooted an electric post and wires of the live line fell on them. [S]

Wild tuskers destroy houses, hurt one

NAZIRA, Oct 28: A wood cutter of the foot hills near Nazira was attacked by wild elephant when he was busy cutting wood in the jungle and wounded him severely. Two other wood cutters somehow managed to escape. On the other hand a herd of wild elephants destroyed 10 houses in a nearly village. [S]

Tripura wildlife park ravaged by militancy

AGARTALA, Oct 30: Among the numerous casualties of protracted militancy in Tripura, the state's lone animal sanctuary at Sipahijala in Bishalgarh subdivision is arguably the most prominent. Depredations by militants in hilly areas around the sanctuary and a series of abductions last year from within the sanctuary have resulted in a severe fall in tourist traffic. Let alone visitors from outside the state, most of the local people are keeping away from the sprawling sanctuary. [TT]

Elephant menace

TEZPUR, Oct 31: Atleast one person died when a herds of about 150 wild tuskers ransacked Harigaon village under Tezpur police station on Sunday. According to forest sources, twenty dwelling houses were damaged by the wild tuskers. Crops worth more than Rs 50,000 were also destroyed. [AT]

Rhino horn recovered

GUWAHATI, Nov 4: In a major development city police today busted a rhino horn smugglers' racket and arrested five of a gang and also recovered a rhino horn. [AT]

Factors responsible for drop in forest cover

GOLAKGANJ, Nov 4: Active political patronage and lack lustre attitude of the Forest department have allegedly accelerated deforestation in reserve forests of the state. Encroachment and illegal settlement inside forest areas have led to the alarming rate of loss of green cover endangering many species of birds and animals. [AT]

Magistrate, 5 others hurt in mob attack

TEZPUR, Nov 4: At least six persons, including an executive magistrate and four forest officials were injured when an irate mob attacked them at Patgaon under Rangapara police station last night. According to reports, the villagers attacked the forest officials when the latter continued to chase a herd of wild elephants to Chariduar reserved forest despite the opposition by the villagers fearing further damage of their standing crops by the elephants. [S]

Rhino killed for horn

GUWAHATI, Nov 6: Forest Department personnel yesterday recovered a carcass of a full-grown rhinoceros from a pit, dug by poachers near Daslung camp in West Bagori Range in Kuthari. The poachers took away the horn, sources informed. [AT]

2,950 hectares of border land occupied

NAZIRA, Nov 6: "The Government may or may not settle the border dispute of Assam and Nagaland, the District Administration may or may not demarcate the boundary line but it is crystal clear that a big area of land has entered into the Nagaland side from Assam due to the wrong policy of the State Government", alleged a section of the local people of the area. Like the encroachment by Nagaland Government in Rengma and Merapani a vast area of Geleki forest from Athkel to Ladoigarh remains under encroachment of Nagaland. The encroachers destroyed the forest wantonly and have established their villages, forest office, agriculture farm and English medium school in the encroached area. [S]

Fake rhino horn recovered

JAMUGURIHAT, Nov 6: Jamugurihat Police has arrested a fraud Hanif Ali, of Bakola village of greater Itakhola area, recently for selling duplicate wooden Rhino horns as pure ones. It can be mentioned here that Hanif Ali, who is professionally a carpenter was doing this business for a long time. Jamugurihat Police on a tip-off went to Bakola and raided the house of Hanif Ali, from where the police recovered a duplicate wooden Rhino horn. [S]

Arunachal cop held for poaching

DIBRUGARH, Nov 9: A policeman of the Arunachal constabulary, Hwangho Mamai, was caught red-handed poaching a rare monkey species, the Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates Hoolock) at the Joypur reserved forest on October 26. [AT]

Elephant menace at Halidhibari

JORHAT, Nov 9: A vast area of Upper Majuli including Haldhibari is under threats of wild elephants for the last 15 days. A herd of wild elephants remains hiding in the chapari area in the day time and at night comes out to paddy fields of the adjacent villages to eat paddy. [S]

Timber smugglers get Shaktiman trucks, elephants just for asking

JORHAT, Nov 9: A section of middlemen are supplying elephants and Shaktiman trucks to smuggle timber from Assam to Nagaland. The smugglers use the elephants and trucks, supplied by these middlemen, to carry timbers from the Abhayapur reserved forest to Tizit of Nagaland, under the Mon district. The hired elephants and trucks take the smuggled timber to some illegal sawmills situated at Nefa, Namtong, etc. in the Mon district itself. [S]

Rhino killed by poachers

BOKAKHAT, Nov 9: Poachers have killed a rhino in Bagori range of KNP yesterday entrapping the rhino in a pit. They took away the horn. [S]

Migratory birds killed

JORHAT, Nov 10: A group of notorious poachecs have started killing and capturing migratory birds in the riverine island of Majuli. Some people carried, some captured migratory birds in cages to sell on November 9 and the Forest department personnel freed the birds from captivity and warned the people not to capture migratory birds again. From the beginning of November, flocks of migratory birds have come to the Nimatighat area. It is quite encouraging that the Forest department is creating sufficient consciousness among the common people in the area which helps to save many migratory birds from the hands of the cruel hunters. [S]

NDFB & NLFT signboards in Assam, Tripura forests warn against tree felling
Militants move to protect NE woodlands

GUWAHATI, Nov 11: Militant outfits in the northeast have joined the crusading green brigade to protect the woodlands and wildlife in the reserve forest areas from the depredations of timber smugglers, poachers and land encroachers. There are confirmed reports that the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have set up signboards and banners in and around certain reserve forest areas in Assam and Tripura respectively to save valuable trees from being smuggled out. NDFB placards at various strategic points across huge stretches of the Manas Forest Reserve, tersely warn that "indiscriminate felling of trees is prohibited and offenders will be seriously punished." NLFT bills in the forest areas of Tripura issue similar warnings. [NED]

Elephant population boom creating havoc

GUWAHATI, Nov 13: Elephants occupy a distinct place in the popular psyche of Assam. They are regarded as some sacred animals created by God and are symbols of luck and prosperity to majority of the State's people. Fascinating foklores and folksongs based on elephants and the people who deal with them abound in the State. Renowned singer Pratima Pandey Baruah made some of such songs immortal with her unique rendition. But today, these majestic creatures have become sources of sorrow for many people in the State. An undeclared war has broken out in many places of the State between the people and the elephants. [AT]

Pollution in Guwahati reach alarming level

GUWAHATI, Nov 14: "I find myself suffocated in Guwahati," said chairman of the Assam Pollution Control Board Dr LN Bora. That one statement was more than enough to drive home how critical the civic situation in the premier city of the North-east has become. And that was exactly what experts from several department and institutions gathered to discuss here this afternoon. [AT]

SOS by nature lovers-- 'Save Nambar, don't let them vanish'

GOLAGHAT, Nov 17: A few days ago, a herd of wild elephants, coming out from nearby Nambar reserve forest, chased the DC and SP of Golaghat district while they were on a visit to Jamuguri area to take stock of the situation arising out of elephants on a rampage. An unique incident takes place in NH 39 in Nambar forest area between Chilonijan and Garampani and Rongajan area. The wild elephants virtually beg the passers-by for something to eat. This behavious of wild elephants is quite unnatural. Such unnatural behaviour has become quite usual in the nearby areas of Nambar forest reserve. [S]

Army seizes timber worth Rs 75,000

GUWAHATI, Nov 19: Army troops operating in northern Darrang on November 18 seized illegally-felled timber worth Rs 75,000 in Khalingduar reserved forest near the international border with Bhutan, a PIB release states. [S]

Wild elephants create panic in Barhampur areas

NAGAON, Nov 20: In the villages of Barhampur, Chalchali, Halowagaon, Bezargaon, Bamuni, Sapanala, Kondoli, the formers have been reported to be amidst deep trouble in protecting their agriculture fields from the wild elephants which have migrated from the Bamuni hills these days. According to a source of information every night, a herd of nearly 100 elephant enters in these villages in search of foods and have caused huge loss to the farmers with extensive damages to the paddy fields. [S]

Man responsible for Jumbo's raids on paddy fields

GUWAHATI, Nov 24: Why wild elephants have started coming out of the jungles? "Because of genuine reasons elephants have to raid crop fields," said Sri Abdhesh Gangwar of the Centre for Environment Education's North Eastern Cell (CEE North-East). Elephant is a big species and is migratory. One elephant requires 10 sq km area, and, routes to migrate for the species are not available now, Sri Gangwar said. [AT]

8 wood-cutters gunned down by NDFB ultras

KOKRAJHAR, Nov 25: Suspected NDFB militants gunned down eight wood-cutters at Lung Sung forest reserve under Runikhata border outpost in Kokrajhar yesterday, informed Sri KK Sharma, SP, Kokrajhar today. According to Sharma, a group of wood-cutters had gone to the Lung Sung forest reserve yesterday when militants (NDFB) came across the group and shot them dead on the spot.
Meanwhile, at about 10.30 last night at Batabari, just 3 km away from Kokrajhar town, a heavy exchange of fire took place in between CRPF and police commando force. According to the sources, the CRPF personnel and Assam Commando Force had gone to nab the NDFB militants after receiving prior information of NDFB's presence these but due to mistaken identity the firing took place in between CRPF and police commando force. The firing lasted for about 40 minutes. However, no casualty took place on both the sides, sources said. [AT]

Balpakram park safe haven for militants

SHILLONG, Nov 30: Balpakram National Park, the treasure trove of virgin forests with canes, bamboos, reeds, orchids and other flora and fauna unparalleled in luxuriance and varieties is today the home of a large number of militants of the two banned outfits of Meghalaya. "Not only Balpakram, a number of sanctuaries and reserved forests of the State are now the safe havens of militants," said an official of the Meghalaya Forest Department, adding that the Forest Department did not have enough staff to flush out the militants. [S]

Pollution notice to 2 State refineries

GUWAHATI, Dec 1: The State Pollution Control Board (PCBA) has served show cause notices on the authorities of the Guwahati Refinery, the Digboi Refinery, the Cachar Paper Mill of the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) and the Dhekiajuli Tea Estate for their 'continuously violating the provisions of the 1974 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act'. [AT]

Poachers apprehended in KNP

BOKAKHAT, Dec 2: The forest guards of Bogori Range of Kaziranga National Park apprehended three poachers Ajimuddin (28) of Harmoti under Jakhalabandha Police Station, Islamuddin (35) and Jaiuddin of Rupohi under Nagaon district on the night of November 26. Islamuddin had been arrested and sent to jail earlier also in 1994 for poaching in KNP. It is to be noted that one Bhutanese person was also killed on November 19 in Kaziranga National Park in an encounter between a gang of poachers and the forest guards of KNP. [S]

Local fish varieties vanishing from Golakganj fish market

GOLAKGANJ, Dec 4: Local fish varieties are increasingly disappearing due to environmental problems from the Golakganj fish market and in their place are coming the Andhra varieties, the huge hybrids sans taste. The small fries and even the Brahmaputra hilsa have vanished completely. Already at least a dozen varieties have vanished from the market. According to a senior environmentalist of Dhubri, the ones which have either become extent or are threatened are the pulhi, khalihana, rou, bahu, lengana, mrigal, chilal, gharia and bhagun. [AT]

NSCN masterminding poaching of rhinos

GUWAHATI, Dec 4: In spite of several anti-poaching measures initiated by the Forest Department, rhinos in different national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Assam are still being killed for their horns, which fetch tempting prices in foreign markets, especially in the south-east Asian countries. Sources associated with the "Wildlife Crime Monitoring Project" launched by two NGOs in collaboration with the department told The Sentinel that a Dimapur-based arms dealer, supposed to be a linkman of the NSCN is running the racket of smuggling of rhino horns to the south-east Asian countries via Bhutan. [S]

Ill-equipped forest guards' fight to protect Pabitora

PABITORA, Dec 4: It is quite heartening to see the Forest Department personnel at the Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary putting up a brave front against poachers' gangs with old and obsolete weapons over the years now. It seemed that the protectors of the priceless possession of the sanctuary -- one-horned rhinos -- were pitted against the poachers' gangs armed with sophisticated weapons and communication equipment in a losing battle all year round. These gangs are normally armed with high power arms like .500 rifles, carbines, SLRs, AK-47 with matching firepower. As against this the Forest Department personnel with the old .315 rifles and a poor communication system are never a match for those gangs. The problem is further compounded by the fact that a mere 79 employees of the department here including all ranks have to keep vigil over an area of 16 square kilometres. [AT]

Wild tuskers create havoc at Dhalaibill

ITAKHOLA, Dec 5: Massive destruction has been caused by wild elephants at Dhalaibill, an area under Jamuguri police station in last few days. It can be specially mentioned here that a total number of 13 houses have been completely destroyed by the elephants on December 2 at around 10.30 p.m. at night. The people of the greater -- Dhalaibill area urged the administration to protect the life and property of the people of the area. [S]

Devastation caused by wild elephants

JAMUGURIHAT, Dec 6: A vast area attached to Arunachal border has become a area of heavy devastation following the free movement of a herd of wild elephants consisting of more than 30 elephants. As reported the herd of elephants coming out from Arunachal Pradesh has been regularly damaging ripe paddy crops, sugarcane plants, bamboos, coconut plants, and innumerable plantation trees over and above damaging a good number of cottages. [S]

3 woodcutters, ULFA cadre shot dead

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 6: Suspected National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants shot dead three woodcutters in two separate incidents during the last 24 hours in Kokrajhar district.
Our Correspondent from Mangaldai adds: Meanwhile, a United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadre was killed during an encounter with the troops of 5 Assam Regiment at Rajagarh near Barnadi wildlife sanctuary along the Indo-Bhutan border under Panery police station at 6 this morning. [S]

Encroachment of forest land
Assam-Arunachal border tension

TEZPUR, Dec 7: Simmering tension prevailed in the bordering areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh under Biswanath Chariali subdivision in Sonitpur district following the fresh encroachment of forest land by the tribals of Arunachal Pradesh resulting in heavy feeling of trees. Talking to The Assam Tribune, a senior forest official said that about 1,975 hectares of forest land have been encroached by the Arunachalis at Behali reserve forest during the last few months. [AT]

Drop in fodder grass for elephants at Pabitora

PABITORA, Dec 7: Vikram, the ten-year-old elephant well-trained in carrying out night patrolling in the Pabitora Wildlife sanctuary and other works, employed with the Forest Department, has to roam around the entire sanctuary in search of good fodder in winter. This is because during these months most of the grass in the normal habitat of the elephants dry up or get exhausted. Same is the case with other seven elephants employed by the department in the sanctuary. As this reporter recently visited this sanctuary, the mahut of an elephant informed this. Later senior officials of the sanctuary informed that a gradual decline in availability of grass has been becoming a major concern for the authorities of late. [AT]

Rhino horns being bartered for arms
Ultra-poacher nexus comes to light

GOLAGHAT, Dec 8: A growing demand for rhino horns in east India and its barter for arms by the extremists of the region are pushing the Indian one-horned rhinos to the brink of extinction, says a Traffic India report. Rhino horns, which can fetch up to Rs 8 lakh per kg are bartered by the North-east militants with the poaching syndicates in Nagaland and neighbouring Myanmar for arms. Some evidence of such exchange came to light in Manas, the report said, adding that Assamese and Naga ultras sell the horns to fund their activities. [AT]

Kaki forest reserve in peril

HOJAI, Dec 9: The Kaki Forest Sanctuary situated on the fringe of the greater Kaki rural area under Hojai sub-division has been encroached by a section of people. The wanton destruction of valuable trees by the encroachers has caused immense loss of timber. The ecological balance has been disturbed irreparably. The aim of the encroachers is to reclaim land for cultivation from the reserved forest. Wild animals like elephants, rhinos, deer, buffaloes have been facing acute food problem due to the destruction of their habitat. [S]

Rhino death toll 13 in Orang

MANGALDOI, Dec 15: Eight rhinos of the Orang game sanctuary in Darrang and Sonitpur districts were killed this year by poachers coming from the south side of Brahmaputra, while five other rhinos died during floods. According to the, 1999 census report, the Orang sanctuary had 46 rhinos. Moreover, apart from poaching, land encroachment by infiltrators has been taking place in the sanctuary. Sources in the Forest Department said that more than 200 men are needed to protect the animals from poaching. However, there are only 52 people working as forest guards, that too without basic facilities. It is learnt that poaching of deers and birds is on the rise in the sanctuary. [AT]

Kanua birds come under threat of poaching

JORHAT, Dec 18: A flock of Kanua birds living in a tree in Kamalabari in Majuli river-island have suffering from an undiagonized mysterious disease, said a local source. Recently the dead body of a Kanua bird has been recovered from under the tree. Some local people recovered another sick bird of the same kind and have arranged treatment to save the life of the bird. The sick bird fell down from the tree being extremely weak. The local source said that several sick birds fell down from the tree some days ago which may die within two three days. The sudden sickness of the birds living on the tree for the last few years has attracted the notice of local bird lovers. [S]

Wild tuskers create havoc

JAMUARIHAT, Dec 18: As many as residential cottages have been destroyed by a herd of elephants caseating of more than 100 wild elephants creating continuous panic in the last few days. Bedeti, the area of devastation is attached with a good number of tea gardens and also it is attached with the Arunachal border areas on the northern side and char-chapori areas in the southern wide where from the elephants come out. [S]

Orang sanctuary in danger from encroachers, poachers

UDALGURI, Dec 18: Citizens and nature-lovers in the entire Udalguri subdivision have expressed grave concern over the ever-increasing number of incidents like poaching, encroachment and other anti-social activities in and around the Orang National Wildlife Sanctuary. The world-famous one-horned rhino found in Orang wildlife sanctuary is next in number to Kaziranga National Wildlife Park. But precious flora and fauna in the sanctuary is at stake due to the spurt in cases of illegal encroachments and poachings. [AT]

NDFB involved in timber smuggling : Army

GUWAHATI, Dec 20: Is the militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) involved in timber smuggling? The Armymen operating in the Lower Assam districts of Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon have claimed that the militant outfit is actively involved in illegal felling of trees and they attacked only those who refused to pay 'tax' to the militants. [AT]

7 migratory birds found dead

TEZPUR, Dec 21: Atleast seven endangered migratory birds including two Siberan Cranes and five bare headed geese were found dead at Lalphukhuri village near Buroi river under Borgang forest range in Sonitpur district today. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Sri Ajay Sharma, general secretary, Nature's Bonya Pran, an NGO in the area alleged that two persons namely Bandha Munda and Lokiram Goralie allegedly poisoned the lake where the migratory birds take shelter and added that the death toll of the migratory birds may increase. [AT]

Concern over encroachment at sangai sanctuary

IMPHAL, Dec 22: At the second home for the rare sangai, the brow-antlered deer, located at Iroishembba in Imphal West district, some persons had been allotted piecemeal on the sly by the Settlement department of the State without the knowledge of the Forest department. The hilly land along the range of Langol hillock is a reserve forest area, according to the chief conservator of forest (wildlife) office, sources said. [AT]

Tuskers traumatise Ri-Bhoi villagers, damage life, crops & property

SHILLONG, Dec 22: For the past few years, villagers in these remote hamlets along the Meghalaya-Assam border in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya are living in a state of dread. Wild herd of raiding elephants from nearby Rani Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam have been causing 'havoc' in these villages, destroying valuable life and property. Recently in Keling village one person was killed and another injured by these marauding herd and the entire plantation crop destroyed. [NED]

Dilapidated state of Dhing forestry centre resented

DHING, Dec 24: Many important institutions of Assam have been ruined due to the wrong policies pursued by the government and the apathy and negligence of high officials and employees. An example of such an institution is the Social Forestry Centre at Gayangaon of Dhing Revenue Circle under Nagaon district. The Centre has been ruined completely within a period of 14 years. [S]

'Mithun' may face extinction

ITANAGAR, Dec 25: Mithun or Bos Frontalis, the living wealth of the tribals of Arunachal Pradesh, may face extinction if the present rate of its sacrifice continues, Dr T Heli, incharge of the only Mithun breeding farm at Sagalee said. Once upon a time the number of this docile animal owned by a tribal chieftain used to determine his status, besides being exchanged as bride price. [AT]

Rapid decline in Tripura forest cover

AGARTALA, Dec 26: Rapid decrease of the forest cover in this hilly North Eastern state has taken an alarming proportion. Though according to official claim the Tripura forest cover is at present more than 40 per cent, in reality it is only about 17 per cent due to unabated timber smuggling and felling of trees despite standing Supreme Court verdict. [AT]

Poor database hits northeast ecology-save scheme

GUWAHATI, Dec 26: A crippling lack of a comprehensive and up-to-date database on the wildlife of the northeast is seriously hampering efforts of conservationists battling to protect region's fauna, both endangered and otherwise, which incidentally constitute more than three-quarters of India's wildlife species. [NED]

Forest officials in a fix - whom to fear most?

JORHAT, Dec 28: The Forest personnel of sixth extension area in Kaziranga National Park are panic stricken not for wild animals but for the threat from suspected Bangladeshi people. On December 24 some forest guards while trying to stop illegal fishing in the National Park at a place named Karnetopo, suspected Bangladeshi fishermen gave them a hot chase with sharp weapons. The Forest personnel somehow managed to escape and save their lives. [S]

Scared migratory birds may change habitat

JORHAT, Dec 28: The unabated fishing in the beels of the riverine areas of the Brahmaputra from Kokilamukh to Nimatighat has scared the migratory birds. Over and above the young picnic revellers under the influence of liquor terrorize the birds throwing stones, etc. at them. Wildlife Warden Ms Santa Sarma visited the Kokilamukh area and seized three nets from the water of a beel belonging to the poachers and handed over the fishing nets to the people of Forest department. Ms Sarma has informed that some flocks of migratory birds have flown away being scared by the poachers who trouble the water to set their dragnets. Some miscreants take the chance of the birds resting in open places by the bank of the Brahmaputra and kill them by adopting various devices. She further informed that the activity of the forest guards is not at all satisfactory. If the Forest department cannot stop fishing in the riverine areas the migratory birds will face more danger and ultimately change the course of their regular winter visit. A local source said that some people while going to market to sell fish bring out wild birds from their bags and sell them openly like fish and vegetable. Warden Ms Sarma has requested the Forest department to resist such poaching by taking stern action against the miscreants. [S]

Poachers killed 4 rhinos during 2000

BOKAKHAT, Dec 31: Four rhinos were killed by poachers in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and 44 others died due to old age during 2000. While a leopard was killed by poachers, an elephant died due to old age during the year in the park. Forest guards killed one and arrested 30 poachers during the year. A forest gaurd, Mr Naren Saikia was also killed by a rhino. [S]

Wanton killing of avifauna at Urpod Beel causes concern

GOALPARA, Dec 31: Urpod beel, which once recked birds from far-flung areas, including migratory birds, is fast losing its fame because of wanton killing of its birds and fish fauna and gradual destruction of the habitat as a consequence of reckless human activity. [AT]

Spring at Garampani polluted

JORHAT, Dec 31: The water of the spring at Garampani along the Golaghat-Karbi Anglong border near Nambor river is being polluted due to the failure on the part of the State administration to take preventive measures and the lack of environment awareness on the part of the visitors, mainly picnickers. Swimming and bathing with soaps by picnickers are common scenes at the spring, an attractive tourist spot in the State. [S]