To mark International Tiger Day 2025, the Department of Zoology, University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM), in collaboration with the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, Guwahati, organized a day-long awareness program on the theme “Harmonious Coexistence between Humans and Tigers.”
The event, held on the university campus under the National Service Scheme (NSS) Unit and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), featured a series of activities including a street play, art and drawing competitions, and an open quiz focused on tiger conservation.
The program began with the welcome address by Dr Aalika B Borah, Head of the Department of Zoology, followed by a brief felicitation of guests. The main session was opened at 11:50 AM with talks by key speakers—Dr Chandashree Bhuyan, Dr Narayan Sharma (Cotton University), and Kamal Azad, former Wildlife Biologist with the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
The speakers highlighted the importance of tigers in maintaining ecological balance, and pointed to threats like poaching and illegal wildlife trade. They called for stronger enforcement, better public awareness, and involving local communities in conservation efforts.
In the lead-up to the day, the University School of Law and Research at USTM, in collaboration with WWF-India, organized a separate session. Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya, State Coordinator of WWF-India Assam & Arunachal Pradesh, addressed the students, followed by a skit performed by WWF volunteers celebrating the tiger as a symbol of wild resilience.
Global Tiger Day, first observed in 2010 after the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, aims to raise awareness about the need to protect the remaining wild tiger population and their habitats.
USTM, which has an ‘A’ Grade accreditation from NAAC and is ranked in the 151–200 band in the NIRF India Rankings 2024, said it will continue to hold such events to promote environmental awareness and conservation values among students and the wider community.
