(IN): Zubeen sings save-wildlife tune

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Link:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070731/asp/northeast/story_8125905.asp

 

Zubeen sings save-wildlife tune

- Icon in mission to prevent highway hit-and-run cases along Kaziranga

A STAFF REPORTER

 

Guwahati, July 30: Zubeen Garg the singer has never been short of an

audience. Zubeen Garg the activist is hoping his message to save

Kaziranga will strike a chord in as large an audience, if not larger.

 

Assam's most popular singer-composer after Bhupen Haziraka has just

embarked on a mission to raise awareness about the monsoon travails of

Kaziranga National Park.

 

Every year, when floods inundate the park, fleeing animals cross

National Highway 37 at the risk of being mowed down by speeding

vehicles. Villagers living on the periphery of the park pose a threat,

too, preying on deer and other animals that come to the highlands for

shelter.

 

Four deer were run over by speeding vehicles on National Highway 37

last night, while bodies of two other were recovered from the inside

the park. Speeding vehicles also knocked down two deer on Saturday.

Park officials say many more will die in the same manner if motorists

do not exercise caution while passing through this zone.

 

Zubeen, a member of People for Animals, has taken it upon himself to

lead an awareness campaign involving top artistes of the state. " My

mission is to try and save the wild animals of Kaziranga. Several

renowned artistes have pledged to join me, " the singer-composer told

The Telegraph today.

 

His mission will begin on Wednesday with public meetings spread across

four ranges of Kaziranga — Burapahar, Agaratoli, Bagori and Kohora.

The youth icon and other artistes will travel to Dhubawati Beloguri,

Bandardubi, Lukhurukhonia, Dipholupathar and Rajagaon villages to

appeal to the people to do whatever possible to protect the animals.

 

Zubeen has already composed a song based on Kaziranga as the theme for

the campaign. " It is a special song dedicated to the denizens of

Kaziranga, " he said. Actors Nipon Goswami, Jatin Bora, Bishnu

Khargharia and Zerifa Wahid will accompany the singer on the roadshow.

Painters Neelpawan Baruah and Sobha Brahma will be there, too, with

brush and canvas to tell people that Kaziranga is in danger.

 

A Kaziranga-based NGO, Bhumi, and the Wildlife Trust of India are

Zubeen's allies. Uttam Saikia, the president of Bhumi, said the singer

gladly accepted the responsibility of arranging the show.

 

Bhumi has long been engaged in raising awareness about the plight of

wildlife in Kaziranga during the monsoon. " Our members stop vehicles

plying on NH 37 at night and request the drivers to be careful while

passing by, " Saikia said.

 

Bhumi members also train villagers how to handle animals that stray

into villages. " Most animals die of capture myopathy (stress induced

by contact with humans) despite being provided treatment at the rescue

centre. We are teaching villagers how to handle marooned animals, "

Saikia said.

 

Zubeen will release two rescued deer in the park when he visits

Kaziranga this week. The injured animals were found in a village.