West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Alipurduar, September 22: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari joined the state’s World Rhino Day celebrations at Nilpara in Alipurduar on Tuesday, using the occasion to underline West Bengal’s commitment to wildlife conservation and issue a strong message against the illegal hunting and trafficking of wild animals.

The Chief Minister attended the main programme organised as part of his North Bengal visit as the chief guest and inaugurated five exhibitions showcasing various conservation initiatives and welfare-oriented activities undertaken by the state’s Forest Department.

The programme was attended by state Cabinet members Nishith Pramanik, Bishal Lama and Manoj Kumar Oraon. The organisers accorded a warm welcome to the Chief Minister, presenting him with an uttariya, a floral bouquet and a commemorative replica of a rhinoceros calf.

Addressing the gathering, Adhikari said the state government was ready to extend all possible support for the protection and conservation of rhinoceroses and other wildlife. He highlighted the importance of the Dooars as a natural habitat of the one-horned rhinoceros and said the increase in the rhino population in the forest areas of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar was a matter of both pride and happiness for the state.

“Our vast Dooars region is one of the major natural habitats of the one-horned rhinoceros. The increase in the number of one-horned rhinoceroses in the forest areas of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar is undoubtedly a matter of great happiness and immense pride,” the Chief Minister said.

He further stressed that rhinoceroses were not merely a natural asset of West Bengal but also an integral part of the state’s heritage and rich biodiversity.

“Protecting and conserving them is our collective responsibility,” Adhikari said, calling for a renewed commitment to protecting all wildlife from illegal hunting and trafficking.

On World Rhino Day, the Chief Minister urged people and the administration to remain firm in their efforts to ensure the safety of wildlife and preserve the state’s natural heritage for future generations.

The five exhibitions inaugurated during the programme highlighted different aspects of wildlife conservation and the welfare initiatives undertaken by the Forest Department, providing visitors with an insight into the state’s efforts to protect its diverse forest and wildlife resources.

The event in Nilpara also brought the spotlight back on the Dooars and its importance as a habitat for the one-horned rhinoceros, while reinforcing the need for sustained cooperation between the government, forest authorities and local communities in protecting wildlife.

The Chief Minister’s message on World Rhino Day centred on strengthening conservation efforts and ensuring that wildlife remains protected from poaching, illegal hunting and trafficking, with the government reiterating its commitment to safeguarding Bengal’s biodiversity.