Forest ranger trainees from Maha visit Bhitarkanika
forest ranger trainees
from Chandrapur Forest Academy of Administration, Development and Management, Maharashtra, completed a two-day educational visit to
Bhitarkanika National Park
on Tuesday.
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The visit aimed at providing hands-on training in wildlife conservation and forest management exposed the trainees to various aspects of
mangrove forest conservation
,
wildlife management
, crocodile breeding programmes, and Olive Ridley sea turtle protection efforts.
Assistant conservator of forest Manas Kumar Das briefed the trainees about Bhitarkanika, India's second largest mangrove forest after Sundarbans.
"As a Ramsar site, Bhitarkanika is home to diverse wildlife, including spotted deer, saltwater crocodiles, water monitors, pythons, and sambars, along with numerous migratory birds," Das said.
The trainees learned about recent conservation initiatives, including the demolition of illegal shrimp farms violating coastal regulation zone guidelines and Supreme Court rulings. "We are converting these dismantled areas into mangrove forests through systematic plantation," Das added.
Forest officials highlighted the crucial role of mangroves in protecting coastal villages during natural disasters, citing the 1999 cyclone as an example. They also detailed the success of the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, the world's largest rookery for Olive Ridley sea turtles, where over 6 lakh turtles laid eggs between March 5 and 10 this year.
"This field experience at Bhitarkanika will significantly contribute to our future roles as forest officers," said one trainee, emphasising the visit's educational value.
The training programme included practical demonstrations, field visits, and interactive sessions with forest officials and wildlife researchers, making it a comprehensive learning experience for the future forest rangers.
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