Kaziranga to be promoted as a birding destition

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, February 8:  Kaziranga will hold a first ever bird festival from February 13, with an aim to promote the Unesco World Heritage site as a birding destition.

The three–day event will be held at Dhansiriati Pothar at Agoratoli in Bokakhat.

The event is a joint initiative of the Agoratoli Conservation and Eco Tourism Society (ACES), the District Administration of Golaghat and the Kaziranga tiol Park authority. The event is being sponsored by the Mising Autonomous Council.

This event – apart from highlighting the rich birdlife of Kaziranga to the outside world, will also give a huge boost to inbound tourism. But far more important than that will be the opportunity for the local populace to participate in affairs relating to Kaziranga and imbibe the sense of long term conservation of its rich bio–diversity, the organizers said.

As part of the festival, the organizers have lined up a Birding Photo Exhibition showcasing about 300 species of birds, technical sessions on Birding, Bird photography, habitat identification and conservation, Handloom and Handicraft Fair, Ethnic Food Festival, traditiol sports, Kavi Xanmelan on Birds and a half marathon.

Bhaskar J Barua, chief coorditor of the festival said the festival aims at promoting the park as a birding destition of intertiol repute.

“Kaziranga is not only about the conservation success story of the pre–historic one horned rhinoceros, nor is it only about the highest concentration of tigers among all protected areas in the world.

Kaziranga is also home to more than 550 species of birds. This alone makes Kaziranga a repeat visit destition among all avid photographers, wild lifers and birders – not to speak about the amateurs who want to hone their wildlife, birding and photographic skills,” a vision document released on the occasion said.