Kaziranga Celebrates World Elephant Day with Cultural Events and Conservation Efforts

Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve marked World Elephant Day with events including a traditional Ganesh Puja, elephant feast, inter-division sports, and a webinar on human-elephant coexistence. The park also awarded the Gaj Gaurav Award posthumously to Mahout Bubul Gogoi for his dedication to elephant care.

Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (KNP&TR) celebrated World Elephant Day on Monday with a series of events highlighting the significance of elephants and promoting their conservation. The celebrations brought together park officials, local communities, and conservation enthusiasts.

Field Director Sonali Ghosh announced that the day began with a Ganesh Puja and Elephant Feast at the Western Range in Bagori. "The event was a harmonious blend of spirituality and reverence for elephants," she said, "emphasising the deep cultural connection between the people of Assam and these gentle giants." Elephants were treated to bananas, sugarcane, and jaggery, underscoring the park's commitment to their welfare.

An inter-division sports event held at Biswanath Golia Football Ground fostered camaraderie and teamwork among the park's divisions. MLA Biswanath Promod Borthakur, the chief guest, praised the park's wildlife conservation efforts. Additionally, a webinar on human-elephant coexistence featured Dr Anwaruddin Chowdhury, who provided valuable insights into mitigating human-elephant conflicts. The park also posthumously awarded the Gaj Gaurav Award to Mahout Bubul Gogoi for his invaluable contributions to elephant care and conservation.

(With inputs from agencies.)