Jaldapara Heroes Honored for Animal Rescues

Seven forest staffers from Jaldapara National Park have been selected to receive the Gaj Gaurav Award from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change. This recognition is for their instrumental role in rescuing elephants and rhinos during the devastating north Bengal floods on October 5 last year. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Visakhapatnam on August 13, which is observed as World Elephant Day.

Mahouts Bikash Kharia and Rajiv Oraon are being honored for their bravery in rescuing five stranded elephants from the floodwaters of the Torsha and Malangi rivers. Additionally, mahouts Ajibul Haque, Ajit Gabur, Mamtaj Alam, Amasur Kheriya, and Dilip Munda will receive awards for their efforts in rescuing rhinoceroses swept away by the swollen Torsha River.

The floods, caused by heavy rainfall, inundated the North East Corner anti-poaching camp. Despite the dangerous conditions, Kharia and Oraon stayed with captive elephants, assessing safe routes once waters receded and leading the animals to safety. This act exemplified their immense responsibility towards frontline elephant conservation.

The floods also displaced 13 rhinos, carrying them significant distances from Jaldapara. Following the receding waters, a coordinated effort involving 19 trained captive elephants and their mahouts was launched. This operation successfully located, guided, and assisted veterinary teams in tranquilizing and translocating all 13 rhinos to safety over a period of nearly two months.