Apart from this, massive fishing in the water body within the wildlife sanctuary has almost gained legitimacy in this once upon a time paradise for wildlife. Karbi Anglong has more then six declared wildlife sanctuaries ‘Nambor Santuary’ has an area of 37 Sq. KM. and is located within Bokajan Sub-Division and administered by Karbi Anglong East Forest Division, this Sanctuary is found in the western and southern boundary of Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary unto Dhansiri River. Both the sanctuaries are contagious. Very little has been done for effective management and for conservation of the wildlife present within the area of the sanctuary, proper infrastructure development, habitat treatment and up gradation etc. The bids for necessary funds for construction of roads for patrolling, campground, observation towers, installation of wireless system, expansion of water font, procurement of automobiles etc. are rotting in the record room of the authority. A slight dig into the geo-physical circumstance of wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests of this district will provide a better perceptive of the ground state of affairs.

East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the eastern part of this district and administered by East Division Forest, this sanctuary has an area of 221.81 sq. kms as per the data of the government. Contagious to that forest is the ‘Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary’ and this forest is also under the jurisdiction of East Forest Division, has an area of 96 sq. kms Due to non availability of funds and proper administration, this wildlife sanctuary has failed to build up infrastructure for wildlife protection till now, and is also facing encroachment through large scale illegal felling. The ‘Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary’ came into being in 1952 covering an area not more then six squire kilometers. This once absolute haven of big and small animals is situated within the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council district and is really fortunate to have exceptional and scarce flora and fauna but now it is unprotected from all angles. Garampani Sanctuary is under deep biotic strain, specially those areas which are close to the border of nearby Golaghat District. The need of the hour is to develop the extension area otherwise it will be difficult to save this unique patch of forest. Infrastructure like building a road surrounding the protected area for patrolling, besides this, camps at susceptible locations, watch towers are badly needed.

‘Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary’ with a proposed area of 451.87 squire kilometer is rich in flora and fauna composition, and comprises four important Reserve Forests namely Miyungdisa, Disama, Kaki and Englongkiri. In view of the rich bio-diversity of the area and identifying the need to safeguard the responsive ecosystem of this region, the Autonomous Council took up the matter with the Assam government and Ministry of Environment and Forest, but is still waiting for a response till date. This shelter of the wildlife has adequate genetic pool, geomorphologic and zoological implications; in future this area may supplement the conservation measures of the valuable forests of Assam’s hilly zone if protected from destruction.

This reserve forest is contiguous to ‘Dhansiri Reserve Forest’, one of the largest forests of the globe and a storehouse of flora and fauna. Due to mismanagement, the entire forest is rapidly shrinking; massive felling and ruthless poaching have threatened the very existence of this treasure house of nature.

The systematic reduction of the forest cover in the hills of Assam not only reduced the wildlife of this unique place but also destroyed the fragile eco-system.

The practices of illegal slash and burn cultivation have contributed to a great extent in the habitat destruction of the animals, specially the Asiatic elephants. Large scale death of elephants through collisions with trains can be attributed to massive habitat destruction caused by humans. Deficiency of fodder all along the established elephant corridors and clandestine presence of rail tracks are also causing a large number of causalities of the Asiatic elephant especially inside Dhansiri Reserve Forest, which has an excellent concentration of elephants. Appropriate surrounding supervision system is necessary to save some of the endangered species occupying the forests of Karbi Anglong. For conservation of the territory of elephants and to lessen man-animal clashes, a proposal to Government of India was submitted by the local forest authority covering all the reserve forests and declared reserve forests under Elephant Project. Accordingly, the Government has also released funds from time to time, but to no affect as the conflict graph is rising and the death rate of the Asiatic elephant is greater than ever.

In the past, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council encouraged reduction of forests on a large scale by awarding long term leases and coups to private contractors which has been in practice since the fifties to raise revenue of the council sector departments. The systematic reduction of the forest cover in the hills of Assam not only reduced the wildlife of this unique place but also destroyed the fragile eco-system. The process went on unabated till 1995 and by that time, the desolation of the mainstream natural forest was fulfilled. Destruction of nature did not stop there, granting permission for hunting and capture of animals was also issued without much planning or from any productive angle. After the Supreme Court’s ban on green felling, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council also followed the precedence from 1995. A number of unclassified forest areas were brought under government control for protection of gene pool and bio-diversity. Steps were taken for utilizing the knowledge of the aborigine tribes of this district who have the experience of co-existence with the forest. The greatest threats to Karbi Anglong’s forests are encroachment, poaching and illegal felling and the department’s defence against these is far from adequate. An unmotivated ranger with primitive weapons and zero infrastructure can not protect his forest, that too under immense political pressure. These are a few fundamental lacunas which need to be eradicated first, to save the forest and its inhabitants.

Sushanta Roy