Man Has Rescued More Than 5,000 Animals By Working Tirelessly For 12 Years
Manoj Gogoi, an animal enthusiast who has saved hundreds of animals in recent years, lives in a suburb of Bochagaon in Kaziranga, Assam, India. When presented with a predicament like a snake in a corral a few years ago, people in India would have killed the critter, but today they turn to Gogoi.
Dr. Naveen Pandey, Deputy Director of the Corbett Foundation’s Kaziranga office, told TBI that a youngster came to them with a tortoise in his hands, explaining that his family wanted to keep it as a pet, but he wanted it to stay free in nature and so needed to be released in its natural environment.
Gogoi has earned several awards for his efforts, including a ‘Wildlife Warrior’ award from the Corbett Foundation in 2014, and a documentary titled ‘The Man Who Speaks ‘Nature’ made by award-winning Assamese director Dhritiman Kakati last year.
Gogoi stated,
“I was born in Assam’s Kaziranga district. I grew up surrounded by wildlife, including rhinos, leopards, magnificent birds, and even dangerous Himalayan snakes. It has been a part of my life since I was a youngster. Naturally, I grew to appreciate the beauty of nature.”
Gogoi explained to East Mojo:
“If someone informed him that catching wild animals is unlawful and that I may go to jail, he could feel extremely upset for me.”
People have always been looking for Gogoi, even phoning him at 2 a.m., so he founded Naturalists for Rehabilitation of Snakes and Birds (NRSB) in 2007, which currently has 100 volunteers.
This man also worked as a driver for the Assam State Department of Tourism, but in 2013, he was hired as a tour guide at a private resort after taking a course in Mumbai.
His group gained notoriety, and he began receiving ransom calls from various sources. When Gogoi is on a rescue mission, she uses the opportunity to teach people about the necessity of caring for different animals, even if they are hazardous reptiles.
In 2013, the Corbett Foundation learned about Gogoi’s efforts and proposed opening an office in Kaziranga. Gogoi enthusiastically accepted the offer, knowing that he would not only assist cover his family’s bills, but would also broaden the scope of the rescue efforts.
Since 2007, Gogoi has never turned down a rescue request, no matter how far away it is, and he has saved over 5,000 animals. Without include those from 2005 and 2006.
Gogoi stated,
“I learnt primarily via experience, and each animal is unique in its own way. So far, I’ve rescued rhinoceros, leopard, deer, warthogs, jungle cats, and other species that captivate safari visitors. I’ve also rescued a 14-foot-long Cobra that was posing a serious threat to my life.”
The three newborn kingfishers that had not yet opened their eyes were the most meaningful rescue for this man thus far.
