A series of ‘Rhino Goes to School’ awareness programs was held over four days at four schools surrounding the Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve (MNP&TR) in Assam, engaging nearly 1,000 students. Led by Dr. C. Ramesh, IFS, and Dr. Deba Kumar Dutta, the initiative aimed to enhance wildlife conservation awareness, particularly focused on the Greater one-horned rhinoceros. The program began with a session on wildlife conservation fundamentals, followed by discussions on the importance of Manas Tiger Reserve, its biodiversity, and the involvement of local communities. Core topics included rhinoceros ecology, habitat needs, conservation threats, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. To foster engagement, interactive quizzes and drawing competitions were held, with ten top-performing students from each school receiving opportunities for exposure visits to the park. The initiative was coordinated by Ujjal Bayan and Swapan Das of Aaranyak, with vital contributions from additional researchers and volunteers, marking a significant advancement in conservation awareness among youth and community empowerment in protecting the wildlife heritage of Manas National Park.
Conservation Outreach Near Manas NP Reaches 1,000 Students
