Dr. Panjit Basumatary, a prominent veterinarian and the Manager of the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC), has been honored with the Animal Welfare Field Veterinary Award at the 24th International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Animal Action Awards held in London, UK. The ceremony also acknowledged actress and wildlife ambassador Dia Mirza Rekhi for her significant contributions to wildlife conservation efforts in India.

Celebrating Unsung Heroes in Wildlife Protection

The IFAW Animal Action Awards aim to recognize individuals dedicated to the protection and conservation of wildlife. Dr. Basumatary, who resides in Kokrajhar in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of Assam, received this esteemed award for his exemplary work in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. With over 14 years of experience at the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), he has played a critical role in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured and distressed wild animals.

Notable Achievements in Animal Care

Throughout his career, Dr. Basumatary has cared for approximately 3,000 individual animals across more than 250 species, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. One of his remarkable achievements includes hand-raising 26 orphaned Greater One-horned Rhino calves at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga, many of which were successfully rehabilitated and released back into their natural habitats.

Leadership at CBRC

Currently, Dr. Basumatary leads the CBRC, India’s sole facility dedicated to the hand-raising and rehabilitation of orphaned Asiatic black bear cubs. Located in the Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh, the CBRC has successfully rehabilitated and released over 60 bear cubs into their natural environment since its establishment in 2002. This success underscores the vital contributions of the CBRC to wildlife conservation in the region.