(IN): Tata in save-wildlife pledge

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080108/jsp/guwahati/story_8755403.jsp

 

 

*Tata in save-wildlife pledge*

A STAFF REPORTER

 

**

 

*Guwahati, Jan. 7: *Tata Tea has formed an eco-development committee in its

estate adjoining Kaziranga National Park to convince the forest department

of its commitment to protecting wild animals that stray into the plantation.

 

 

The forest department was planning to acquire a part of Hathikuli tea estate

to save wildlife from entering a zone where they were thought to be exposed

to killer pesticides and attacks by humans. The estate came under the

scanner after a Royal Bengal tiger cub died there and another was found in a

semi-conscious state.

 

Tata Tea's general manager (production), S. Sikand, today urged workers of

Hathikuli tea estate to help the Kaziranga management protect wildlife,

especially those straying into the plantation. He made the appeal during an

" awareness meeting " at the estate.

 

The divisional forest officer of Kaziranga, Bankim Sharma, attended the

meeting.

 

Tata Tea agreed to give the forest department some space in the garden to

set up a forest camp. Sikand said the company was aware of its

responsibility towards Kaziranga and had decided to convert the entire

plantation into an organic one by the end of next month.

 

" Even Letkujan tea estate will be transformed into an organic plantation, "

the Tata executive added.

 

Sharma said it was a serious crime to kill a Royal Bengal tiger and that the

law would take its own course in the cases registered against Hathikuli tea

estate. " The persons found guilty of the crime (of poisoning the tiger cub)

will be booked, " he added.

 

A plantation worker who lost cattle in a tiger attack is believed to have

laced a half-eaten carcass with pesticides, leading to the cub's death. A

bottle containing pesticides was found at the site.

 

The divisional forest officer requested the Tata Tea management not to erect

any barrier or fencing that might hamper the movements of animals along

Rongagora division of Hathikuli tea estate.

 

The Rongagora division is part of a " critical wildlife area " between

Kaziranga in the north and Karbi Anglong in the south. Kaziranga straddles

two districts, Golaghat and Nagaon, and is 217km from Guwahati. Although its

most famous resident is the one-horned rhino, it is home to several other

endangered animal and avian species.

 

 

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