Skip to content Skip to navigation

Xihu as Assam State Aquatic Animal

Marking the World Environment Day, the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today announced that the highly endangered river dolphin, locally known as the "Xihu" would now be the State Aquatic Animal. Earlier today Shri Rokibul Hussain, Minister for Forest flagged off a colorful march of about 300 children dressed in caps and T- shirts through the heart of Guwahati, calling for dolphin protection. They were taking part in a two day Children's Summit organized by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research(C-NES) to focus attention on the threat to the river dolphin, a fresh water mammal with a population of over 260 in Assam. There are just about 2000 river dolphins in South Asia due to their getting entangled in gill nets and frequent poaching.

The first ever such Summit saw a unique and uniform interaction between the Chief minister and the students at an hour long programme where the young boys and girls grilled the political leader on issues as varied as global warming, cutting of trees for highway construction and waste management. Shri Gogoi said that he was impressed with the growing environmental consciousness among the youth and said they could teach the older generation. The Summit included painting, essay and quiz contests: The winners were Priyasa Kundu, Suriya Khalid and Simanta Kalita, first, second and third respectively,from the BRPL Vidhalaya, Dhaligaon and the consdolation prizes going to Manjima Sarkar, Namrup and Himakshi Talukdar, Sankardev Jatiya Vidyalaya, Kukurmara in GroupA ( classes 5-7) and Mintu Moran, Jatiya Vidhalaya, Kakopathar, Partha Pratim Nath Jatiya V idyalaya

"The Governments decision will strengthen efforts not just to protect the dolphin but also to develop public awareness on the need to protect wildlife," said Sanjoy Hazarika, Managing Trustee of the C-NES, which has led a sustained campaign to get official recognition for the dolphin, as part of its effort to connect field realities to government policies.

Photo: UB PHotos

Author info

editor's picture

Please send your comments to editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Random Stories

DBU hosts VCs meet

27 Mar 2015 - 3:01pm | editor
For the first time Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) is hosting a meeting of Vice Chancellors and/or their representatives, Friday 27 March. Over 70 Vice Chancellors or representatives from West...

Brahma unwell, rushed to hospital

25 Aug 2012 - 4:40am | editor
Pradeep Kumar Brahma has been admitted to the Kokrajhar Civil Hospital after he complained of discomfort and is undergoing treatment. Notably, MLA Pradeep Brahma, who represents the West Kokrajhar,...

Health camp at Shillong

6 Jul 2011 - 11:11pm | editor
Shree Marwari Panchayat, Shillong alongwith Dorbar Dong Demseiniong, Shillong will be organising a free medical camp of Osteoporosis, Neuropathy, Orthopedics, ENT, General Medicine, Random Blood...

Christmas spirit grips Tura

19 Dec 2013 - 7:27pm | Saidul Khan
The entire Garo Hills region is soaked in festivities. Market is full of colourful lights, glazing stars and other decorative items. The mood is set right for the advent of yet another eventful...

Other Contents by Author

Wanna do online journalism? You can do if you are confident and workaholic. Need only an online training. We at Assam Times are ready to help you translate your dream in this roaring job. Come January 1, 2018. Register now for online course free of cost and get the advantage. Manned by a team of sharp and dedicated journos of international repute we are coming up from the new years day.  
Yet another witch hunting incident fans no less shock and anger across the on Monday two days after it came to light. The incident took place at a remote helmet in Chirang district bordering Bhutan where thr body of the victim was recovered on Saturday. Identified as Guneswar Basumatary, the local resident of Koila Moila near Dotom was believed to have been killed alleging witch craft.  According to family members,Guneswar went missing on September 16 evening he visited his relative's house at Koila Moila area. Family members lodged an FIR with Amguri PS,case number 45/2017, under section 302/201 IPC. During a search operation, police and family members recovered body in decomposed...
A local magistrate in Nagaon on Friday remanded Mithu Roy to two days police custody after the trader was produced before it in connection with the recent incident where he and his associates thrashed four former ULFA rebels who approached him for fund to feed the flood hit people.  According to allegations, he was the main culprit who hired a few local associates to beat up the youths who were raising fund.  He was arrested on Thursday as he was on the run as police arrested his three associates on Wednesday afternoon.  Meanwhile, a huge gathering in the central Assam town demanded examplary punishment of the accused youths saying that they...
A candle lighting rally was  carried out at Salakati in protest against killing of ABMSU leader Lafikul. The was organized by ABMSU and was participating by ABSU, AKRSU, bengali Federation, Santhali Student's Union and many organizations. The rally was started from Salakati anchalik Abmsu office and concluded at Railway gate. Thousands housands of activists from various student's union and civilians participated and demanded early arrests of main culprits.The ABMSU demanded CBI inquiry into Lafikul murder,arrest main culprits and provide safety and security to the persons of the region. Moinuddin Ali,ABMSU leader said that main culprits should be nabbed  as soon as possible...
United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) said The Nagas Nation has lost a true and uncompromising Nationalist. "In the creation of Western South East Asia geographic identity with an organic soul giving hope to even the smallest nationality of the region opportunity to get just political representation amongst the family of Nations reflects his deep understanding and vision in keeping with his superb statesmanship".  Describing him as a 'Grandee' of the indigenous citizens of the WESEA region, ULFA(I) chairman Dr Abhizeet Asom in his condolence message to media said "as the Chairman of United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, he brought an affinity amongst the...
Amid an escalating controversy over beef consumption, yet another leader has quit BJP in Meghalaya suggesting a setback for the saffron party in the pre poll political landscape.  North Garo Hills BJP president Bachu Marak pulled out of the party after the national party spokesman Nolin Kohli warned him against a beef party in Tura to celebrate the three years of the NDA government at the Centre. Marak, who pulled many people to BJP in the Congress ruled state rued in his resignation letter to state party president Sjibun Lyngdoh made it plain and simple that he would never go against the sentiment of the  Garo people for whom beef is an inevitable item at any feast. He...
A crucial meeting of BPF and AGP leadership with Amit Shah is clearing the decks for the expansion of Sarbananda Sonowal cabinet slated for April 15. Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma along with AGP president Atul Bora, his BPF counterpart Hagrama Mohilary is meeting the BJP president in New Delhi on Monday where the entire process would be finalized. Sources told www.Assam Times that Bongaigaon legislator Phani Bhushan Chaudhury is likely to be inducted in the cabinet from AGP. Both AGP and BPF will have one each in the cabinet while BJP will have six new faces in the expanded cabinet. Those who are attending the close door meet include Hagrama Mohilary, Arul Bora, Hemant Biswa...
In a bizarre incident that triggers statewide anger and surprise, the police have arrested a top ranked officer in Dispur on bribery charges on Tuesday before recovering more than Rs 1 crore from his possession.He is none other than Kujendra Doley, the irrigation secretary who alleged to have been collecting lakhs of rupees from the contractors for releasing their bills.Acting on a complaint from a contractor, the sleuths of the vigilance and anti corruption cell caught the secretary red handed and seized an astronomical amount of money from his office locker he allegedly to pay minister Ranjit Dutta.Then Doley was taken to his residence in the city and Rs 10 lakh were seized in cash during...