Like humans, there is need to worry about lives of wild animals: Governor
Date :29-Apr-2023
Staff Reporter
Governor Mangubhai Patel said that today, in the race for development humans are fighting with wild animals and forest areas are shrinking. We should try that there should be no conflict between humans and wild animals. Like humans, there is a need to worry about the lives of wild animals too. Unless the wild animals are provoked, they do not attack us. He expected that in this three-day workshop, there will be a special discussion on how to reduce the conflict between wild animals and humans so that conclusions will come out. Governor Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste attended the workshop on International Wildlife Conservation and Forest Protection at Khatiya in Mandla district. Chief Minister Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh has maximum forest area in the country. 12 per cent of the total forest area of the country comes in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is working with alacrity for the protection and conservation of wild animals. As a result, today Madhya Pradesh has become the Tiger State, Cheetah State, Leopard State and Gharial State of the country. If our forests are safe, then the wild animals will also be safe in them. Due to this, human life will also be safe.
Due to this, human life will also be safe. It is our responsibility to protect and conserve wildlife and forests for the protection of human life and our future generations. Chouhan said that in this three-day workshop, efforts will be made to implement whatever new ideas and suggestions emerge regarding the protection and conserve of wildlife. He said that this earth is not only for humans. All living beings have the right to live on this earth. We have to live with the spirit of live and let live and protect the wild animals. In our ancient texts, wild animals have been made the vehicles of Gods and Goddesses. It gives us the message of protection of wild animals. It has been the tradition of our country that we worship trees, mountains and even rivers. We should have a feeling of compassion for every living being. As a result of the efforts made by the State Government, there has been an increase in the forest area in the State. We have been able to achieve this despite the pressures of human development. Today, there are six tiger reserves and 11 national parks in Madhya Pradesh. The State has got the status of Cheetah State by paying special attention to wildlife conservation. Cheetahs have been introduced in the Kuno sanctuary and alligators have been introduced in the Chambal park. Now efforts are being made to establish Bison in Bandhavgarh. Our government will leave no stone unturned in the conservation of wildlife.
Forest Minister Dr Kunwar Vijay Shah said that earlier when National Parks and Sanctuaries were created for the protection of wild animals, it was very difficult to relocate the people from there. Today this task is not so difficult. To save the ecosystem of forests, we should not plant only teak saplings, but 50 per cent of the plants that give forest produce should be planted. Apart from providing employment to humans, forest produce also provides food to birds and also helps in the protection of forests. Everyone should take a pledge that 50 per cent saplings of forest produce should be planted in the forests. MP Dr Dhal Singh Bisen said that along with the protection of forests and wildlife, we also have to pay attention to the safety of the staff engaged in the protection of forests. Today, along with development, we are also in dire need of forests and wildlife, special attention has to be paid to this. In the workshop, MP Dr Dhal Singh Bisen, PCCF of Madhya Pradesh R K Gupta, Director of Madhya Pradesh Forestry Research Institute Amitabh Agnihotri, Wildlife PCCF Jasvir Singh Chouhan, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) J N Kansotiya, Retired Forest Officer J J Dutta, Dr H S Pabla, office-bearers, forest officials and representatives from 28 states of the country and America, Europe, Africa who came to participate in the workshop were also present. This workshop was organised on completion of 100 years of Vani research in Madhya Pradesh and completion of 50 years of Project Tiger. In the workshop, retired officers J J Dutta and H S Pabla were honoured for their excellent work in support of wildlife conservation and forests. Renowned cardiologist of the country, Dr Ramakant Panda, associated with forest conservation, was also honoured.