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A campaign to protect Kaziranga Park
by Peter Alex Todd

          Guwahati: Singer Zubeen Garg is heading a campaign of Assamese artistes to preserve the Kaziranga National Park, a world heritage site which has the rare one-horned rhinoceros. The campaign is also aimed at creating awareness about the dwindling number of rhinos and elephants in Assam. He has composed and rendered songs in Assamese exhorting the people to protect wildlife. "The aim is to save the endangered animals of the Kaziranga, which are endangered due to rampant poaching," said Garg. M C Malakar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Assam, said: "The local community and the NGO's and the Government has come together to save the wildlife." Spread over an area of 430 square kilometers, Kaziranga National Park is not only a habitat for elephants, but also has the highest reserves of one horned rhinos in the world. Unfortunately, the great demand of elephant tusks and horns of rhinos in the international market have made them soft targets. In the last five years, Kaziranga has lost 268 elephants. With concerted efforts, it is hoped that everyone would understand the importance of wildlife conservation.
- August 25,  2007