Assam forest dept take steps to protect animals in Kaziranga

Guwahati: Assam Forest department has initiated a slew of measures, including the raising of a separate battalion of Protection Force, to safeguard animals in the Kaziranga National Park. Efforts are on to raise a separate battalion of the force and a new range office in the Northern part of the Park, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said in the state assembly on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_557716” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  PTI[/caption] Poaching has been made a non-bailable offence with those committing such crimes being sentenced to life term while forest guards are being equipped with AK-series rifles to counter poachers. The state government would initiate talks with the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to bring the areas of the Park under the Council within the Park’s administration to ensure the protection of animals which usually move to neighbouring Karbi Hills during floods. Hussain claimed there was no encroachment in the core areas of the Park and the encroachments which have been reported are under the second annexure while the third and fifth annexure were yet to be handed over to the forest department by the revenue. PTI