Students from Nepali Vidyapith School near Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar embarked on an educational trip to learn about forest and wildlife conservation. The visit aimed to educate the 34 students on the importance of protecting the park's biodiversity, including the one-horned rhino, Jaldapara's most famous resident.
Forest officials briefed the students on how to respond to wild animals that stray into neighboring villages. Common occurrences involve elephants, leopards, gaurs, and rhinos entering human settlements in search of food, often leading to panic and dangerous confrontations. The students were taught how to educate their communities on safe practices to avoid harming the animals or escalating conflicts.
The school hopes this experience will empower the children to spread awareness about wildlife conservation within their villages, promoting coexistence and reducing human-animal conflict.