Forest Guard Wins Earth Heroes Award For His Exceptional Service Protecting Rhinos In Kaziranga!

Tigers, elephants, and rhinos are some of the most endangered species in our country. News of poachers hunting these animals due to a (barbaric) cultural demand for wildlife products keeps coming to light often. But the forest guards go far and beyond putting every ounce of courage and effort to protect these endangered animals from the hunters. A glimpse of it was also shown in Vidyut Jamwal’s latest Bollywood outing, Junglee.

One such forest officer, Dimbeshwar Das, who has dedicated 30 years of his life protecting the rhinos in Kaziranga National Park has been recently awarded for his efforts. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has awarded the title of ‘Earth Hero 2019’ under the category of ‘Green Warrior’ to Das for keeping away the hunters and poachers from the rhinos in the forest, reports The Indian Express.

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“Kaziranga is not for the faint-hearted. I joined the Park in January 1987, as a boatman. I was 23 then,” Das said. Das was gradually promoted to the position of a forest guard in 30 years of his service. He specializes in catching hunters and poachers.

“I have been deputed to the interiors of the Park, densely forested and out of bounds for tourists. But it was only then, when the poachers threatened me, that I felt that my — and my family’s — life was in danger,” he added.

“He’s been part of several operations that have led to the catching of a number of poachers,” Rohini B Saikia, former DFO, Kaziranga said. He had received so many threats from the hunters and poachers that he often had to change his base from one camp to another.

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“It has a high density of animals, but also of poachers, armed with the most advanced guns. So, a guard typically has to save himself both from wild animals and poachers,” says Saikia, who is now based in Guwahati as Deputy Conservator of Forests.

Moreover, Das is lovingly and respectfully called as ‘The Wall’ for his remarkable contribution.

“It is only in Kaziranga where guards have to camp inside the Park for months and months, without contacting their families. In the past, the network was a problem, though things have become better now. In many other parts of India, guards don’t camp all night. In fact, a Supreme Court judgment had once referenced the unique ‘Kaziranga Model of Protection’, citing it as the best way to protect wildlife,” Rathin Barman, joint director of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and head of Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga told IE.

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Talking about the staff crunch at Kaziranga, Das said that the facilities for the staff at the national park have been subsequently improved. A ‘Special Rhino Protection Force’ (SRPF) was also deployed in various parts of KNP.

Das has received Rs 2 lakh as cash prize as a part of the award. He has been commended by the Institute for his “outstanding efforts towards the conservation of the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros.”

Das, however, believes that it is a team effort. “Trust me, no one works as hard as the Kaziranga guards — if we didn’t work, the rhinos wouldn’t be alive,” he says, “You need to be alert 24/7 — during the annual floods, ever more so. I remember how last year we had to rescue a number of rhinos stuck in the river banks,” he said.

Recalling an incident from the past, Das said, “We were on elephants. Suddenly, the tiger caught one of the mahouts. It was then that I jumped down from my own elephant and blank fired. The tiger ran away. In this kind of job, you can’t afford to be scared — ever,” he said

It’s certainly a well-deserved win for Das. Kudos to you, sir!

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