Jalpaiguri: Seven forest staffers of Jaldapara National Park will receive the Gaj Gaurav Award from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change for their role in rescuing elephants and rhinos during the devastating north Bengal floods of Oct 5 last year. The awards will be presented in Visakhapatnam on Aug 13, World Elephant Day.Mahouts Bikash Kharia and Rajiv Oraon have been selected for rescuing five stranded kunki elephants from the floodwaters of Torsha and Malangi rivers. Mahouts Ajibul Haque, Ajit Gabur, Mamtaj Alam, Amasur Kheriya and Dilip Munda will be honoured for rescuing rhinoceroses swept away by the swollen Torsha.The floods, triggered by heavy rain and a sharp rise in Torsha and Malangi rivers, inundated the North East Corner anti-poaching camp under Kodalbasti Range after an embankment collapsed near Subhasini Tea Garden. The camp, where four adult captive elephants — Amrapali, Tista, Bhabani, Sundari — and Sundari’s calf were stationed, became isolated amid strong currents.Despite having an opportunity to leave, Kharia and Oraon stayed with the elephants. After waiting for the water level to reced, they assessed the safest route and successfully led the animals to safety.Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Jaldapara Wildlife Division Parveen Kaswan said their bravery and sense of responsibility reflected the highest standards of frontline elephant conservation.The floods also displaced 13 rhinos, carrying them 10-25km outside Jaldapara into parts of ALipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. After the waters receded, the forest department deployed 19 trained captive elephants and their mahouts to locate the rhinos, guide them towards forested areas and assist veterinary teams in tranquilisation and translocation. After nearly two months, all 13 rhinos were successfully rescued and secured.Haque, Gabur, Alam, Kheriya and Munda were reognised for their rescue efforts in areas including Patlakhawa, Putimari and Salkumar.
