Manoj Gogoi: a young conservationist saving wildlife in India

Manoj Gogoi has dedicated his life to saving wild animals: so far he has protected over 6,000 of them especially during the annual floods that hit Kaziranga

Manoj Gogoi from Kaziranga, Assam, India has dedicated his entire life to the protection of wildlife. He started Naturalists for the Rehabilitation of Snakes and Birds (NRSB) in 2007 and has rescued more than 6,000 animals so far.

Growing up surrounded by nature, Manoj’s fascination with wildlife began early in life amidst rhinos, leopards, and a variety of bird species. He originally started his career as a tour guide and was able to network with biodiversity experts.

Pivoting end

A chance meeting with Ashok Verma from the Bombay Natural History SocietyB influenced Manoj to join a one-month course in Mumbai. This congealed his dream of becoming a conservationist. Here, he discovered the truth about animals being conserved, which he soon assimilated into his psyche.

Community outreach with the young

His first rescue was in the year 2007 when he saved a python from an angry crowd hell-bent on killing it. This courageous act began his long career in wildlife rehabilitation.

Since then, he has been at it through relentless toil-when the yearly floods inundate Kaziranga, he braves challenge after challenge in saving animals in distress. Manoj’s modus operandi transcends mere rescue operations.

He has also initiated a community outreach program, whereby he gets the local youth to work with him. As of now, over 100 boys and girls of the village are associated with his work, getting trained as wildlife guides and rescuers. Manoj strongly believes that it is necessary to educate the younger generation about the importance of wildlife conservation and how much respect for nature needs to be instilled in them.

The backing by the Corbett Foundation has enabled him to scale up his operations and upgrade his skills in animal first aid. This support has also brought him closer to the forest authorities, who seek his help almost every time there is a wild-life emergency.

A local hero

In due course, Manoj gained recognition as a local hero. He was appreciated in his work and respected by others. A commitment to the animals created him as an example for others in society. Even still, his massive successes did not deter Manoj from continued hard work protecting Kaziranga’s wildlife.