“The magnificent national parks (NPs) and the number of wildlife sanctuaries (WLS) in Assam are not only treasure troves but also flag bearers of the rich biodiversity on the region. The Forest Department in Assam leaves no stone unturned in its sustained efforts to conserve these resourceful protected areas,” said the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Government of Assam, Dr Vinay Gupta while setting on the roll the 4th Orang Nature Camp, 2025 organised by premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak in Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve on Saturday.
Addressing the young students who have come to participate in the four-day residential Nature Camp, Dr Gupta said such nature camp organised in a national park and tiger reserve would provide them with a golden opportunity to learn lessons about biodiversity by observing the nature staying in the lap of the nature.
The inauguration of the four-day Nature Camp which is being attended by 32 students from six neighbouring high schools, was also attended by Field Director of Orang Tiger Reserve Pradipta Baruah, Secretary General of Aaranyak Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar.
Field Director of the Tiger Reserve, Pradipta Baruah told the participating students and the accompanying teachers how exciting and enlightening the were the previous three such residential Nature Camps organised by Aaranyak in collaboration with the authority on ONP&TR. He called upon the students to focus on what they were being taught and shown during the nature camp as it will help them become a much better and resourceful human being as the mother nature in a sea of knowledge and a greater teacher.
Secretary General of Aaranyak, Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar expressed gratitude to Assam Forest Department and the authority in ONP &TR for allowing Aaranyak to the series of Nature Camp in the tiger reserve for the students from the neighbouring areas.
He also called upon the students to utilise their time in the residential camp with a focus to learn what they are being taught by a number of experts on nature and biodiversity as they are expected to carry that wisdom with them to be shared later with their peers and family members so that the nature camp through them reach out to a larger spectrum of people in the society.
The Nature Camp is being organised during May 17 to 20, by Aaranyak with support from DSWF, UK to sensitise the participating students on the significance and importance of biodiversity and nature, according to Arif Hussain, Manager in Rhino Research and Conservation Division (RRCD) of Aaranyak and prime mover behind organising a series of such nature camps over the years for students for promotion of conservation of rhinos and tigers.
He informed that students have been pooled from neighbouring Sealmari High School, Vallabhai Higher Secondary School, Bechimari ME Madrasa, Sankardev Jatiya Bidyalaya, Keramot Ali ME School, Bosola High school and Fatasimolu ME School.
Besides the authority and forest officials and staff of the Orang Tiger Reserve, the camp is being organised with support from acclaimed wildlife photographer Nejib Ahmed of Wild Wings, senior journalist Swapan Nath, local wildlife enthusiast including Baharul Islam.
A number of senior forest officials and environment experts are taking classes for the participating students. There will be both indoor and outdoor sessions during the camp besides a safari in the national park for the students.
