ITANAGAR, Dec 19: Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) & the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) celebrated a milestone achievement of 20 years of dedicated service to wildlife conservation with community members from Pakke Tiger Reserve, and the Department of Environment & Forest, Arunachal Pradesh.
Hosted at the VKV Alumni Children Park (Pakke Paga Hornbill playground), the event involved interactions with village elders from the Nyishi Elite Society, the Aka Welfare Society and the Gora Aabhe, who have helped preserve the forests and wildlife in this region.
The celebrations commenced with a welcome address by Satyaprakash Singh DFO Pakke Tiger Reserve. In honour of the fallen wildlife rangers in Pakke Tiger Reserve, a poignant one-minute silence was observed.
N. Tam, PCCF (WL&BD) & CWLW, in his speech  noted the substantial decrease in illegal hunting in the forests over the years. This positive change is attributed to the collaborative efforts of WTI-IFAW, the Forest Department, and local communities, he said. He also expressed appreciation for the initiatives aimed at supporting the local community.
Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), USA who was also present stressed on the vital role of indigenous people in preserving forest biodiversity, stating their core belief that both animals and humans can thrive together on this planet. "Our commitment extends beyond wildlife conservation to ensuring the safety of communities living alongside wildlife. The 25 years of service to nature is a significant milestone for WTI-IFAW and this would not have been possible without the  engagement of the community, the forest officers, and all those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty," he said.
Vivek Menon, Founder and Executive Director, WTI, in his speech said that the WTI selected the Pakke landscape as one of the initial projects over two decades ago due to its rich biodiversity and over the years which has witnessed a remarkable transformation. "Today, CBRC has a 90% success rate in rehabilitation, one of the highest in the world. This success showcases the feasibility of releasing Asiatic black bears into the wild and positions Pakke as a top-performing tiger reserve in India. Furthermore, our collaborative work with the community highlights that civil society and the forest department can come together and work as one front to attain significant conservation goals," Menon said.
Takam Nabam, Chairman of Ghora Aabhe Society Seijosa, provided a brief history of conservation activities which was followed by a cultural display of traditional group dances.  Azzedine Downes, and Vivek Menon were honoured with certificates of appreciation by the community heads. 
The event concluded with a ‘Grain for grain’ distribution, a scheme initiated by WTI in 2005 to provide assistance to farmers and reduce instances of retaliation against elephants in the area.
WTI—IFAW have been working in the Pakke landscape for nearly two decades in collaboration with the Department of Environment &Forest, Arunachal Pradesh,the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and indigenous communities.  In 2002, they jointly established the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC) in Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. This year also marks 25 years of WTI’s conservation journey in India since its inception in 1998.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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