Siliguri, 22nd September: On the occasion of World Rhino Day, a programme was organized at Siliguri’s Bengal Safari Park today. Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee inaugurated the programme and felicitated six forest workers of Gorumara and Jaldapara Sanctuary at the event.
Addressing the gathering, the Forest Minister maintained that any illegal work in the department will not be tolerated. With this, he added that the forest workers with good records will be felicitated, while legal action will be taken against those who are negligent in their work.
Banerjee further stated that rhinos are found in two places across the world i.e. Africa and India. Two states in India i.e Assam and West Bengal have the highest number of rhinos.
While there were only 20 rhinos in Gorumara and Jaldapara Sanctuary in the year 1965, the number has reached 300 in 2020. He added that about 2,000 forest workers are likely to be appointed in North Bengal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Bankura, and Purulia.