Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve marked International Primate Day on Monday with a community-centred event aimed at deepening awareness of primate conservation in Assam. The programme, organised in partnership with the conservation NGO Aaranyak, took place at Rhinoland Park in Burapahar Range.
Observed globally on September 1, International Primate Day seeks to highlight the importance of protecting primate species and their threatened habitats. At Kaziranga, the occasion drew participation from 40 students of Kaliabor College and Jakhalabandha Higher Secondary School, alongside community members from surrounding villages.
Field Director Sonali Ghosh said several Eco-Development Committees (EDCs), including those from Amgurichang, Amguri Bagan, Panbari, Diffaloo Pathar, Borbheta, and Rangaloo, played an active role in the celebrations. “Their involvement highlighted the crucial role of local communities in primate conservation and habitat protection,” she observed.
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The day’s activities included a guided primate walk through nearby forests, enabling participants to observe natural habitats and understand their ecological significance. A live session offered insights into primate behaviour and conservation needs, while a canopy bridge-making demonstration showed how jute-rope structures can help primates cross roads safely and reduce fatalities.
Resource person Dilip Chetry, Director and Head of the Primate Research and Conservation Division at Aaranyak, delivered a detailed session on primate ecology and the challenges facing conservation in Assam. “Interactive discussions, educational sessions, and community interactions made the event lively and informative for both students and villagers,” Ghosh added.
The programme closed with a call for continued collaboration among Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, Aaranyak, students, and communities to safeguard primate habitats within the larger Kaziranga landscape.
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