Assam’s Dr. Panjit Basumatary Receives Animal Welfare Award at London Ceremony

The 24th International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Animal Action Awards in London celebrated Assam’s Dr. Panjit Basumatary, a respected veterinarian and manager of the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation (CBRC), for his outstanding contributions to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

Bollywood actress and wildlife ambassador Dia Mirza Rekhi was also recognized for her dedicated efforts in wildlife conservation in India.

Dia Mirza Rekhi, WTI’s Ambassador was also awarded at the same event in London

Dr. Basumatary, a resident of Kokrajhar in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), was awarded the prestigious ‘Animal Welfare Field Veterinary Award’ for his remarkable work in saving, rehabilitating, and releasing injured wildlife. With more than 14 years of service at the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Dr. Basumatary has cared for around 3,000 animals from over 250 species, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. Among his achievements, he has hand-raised 26 orphaned Greater One-horned Rhino calves at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga, many of which have successfully returned to the wild.

Currently leading the CBRC, India’s only dedicated center for orphaned Asiatic black bear cub rehabilitation, Dr. Basumatary oversees the crucial work being done at the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. Since its founding in 2002, CBRC has rehabilitated and released more than 60 bear cubs back into their natural habitat, marking a significant success in wildlife conservation.

ALSO READ | WWF Reports Devastating 73% Decline in Global Wildlife Populations Over 50 Years