Assam: Over 500 trees illegally felled in Ultapani forest endangering biodiversity

More than 500 trees have been illegally cut down in the Ultapani forest area of Chirang Reserved Forest in Kokrajhar district of Assam, posing a serious threat to the local biodiversity. The incident occurred as a result of a group of suspected encroachers seeking revenge for the death of a young man who lost his life in an elephant attack in the same area a month ago.

The attackers reportedly cleared the visibility of the road between Ride No. 4 and Ride No. 9 inside Chirang Reserved Forest by cutting down valuable trees, including many nests that were holding eggs. This was done in order to reduce the risk of elephant attacks on the road that connects Ultapani and Bishmuri.

However, the cutting of these trees has had a detrimental impact on the local ecosystem, as it has destroyed the natural canopy connectivity for primate species, including the golden langur. Ultapani is well-known for its semi-evergreen forest, which is a crucial habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna.

The act of illegal deforestation in Ultapani has raised serious concerns about the destruction of the Chirang Reserved Forest, which is renowned for its rich biodiversity and is home to both elephants and golden langurs.