Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) & the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) celebrated 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 DFO Pakke Tiger Reserve Satyaprakash Singh followed by felicitation of the chief guest N Tam, PCCF (WL&BD) & CWLW Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Katung Waghe, president of the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) and others.
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, president and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), US and Vivek Menon, founder and executive director, WTI, senior adviser to the president IFAW, were presented 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.
CBRC is the first specialised rehabilitation centre for Asiatic black bears in India, where a team of dedicated veterinarians and staff provides shelter, food and veterinary care to cubs that have been orphaned or displaced due to habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflict, with the aim of eventual wild rehabilitation.
Over 50 orphaned Asiatic black bear cubs have been successfully reintroduced into the wild, to date. Additionally, the team has assisted the state forest department in the rescue and translocation of 35 Gibbons and the rehabilitation and release of 107 other wild animals in Arunachal Pradesh.
Azzedine Downes, president and CEO of IFAW, said: “Recognising the vital role of indigenous people in preserving forest biodiversity, our core belief is 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.”
