The forest watcher had helped rescued and released 15 leopards back into the forest

Bangalore, 07 November 2022: Cycle Pure Agarbathi, India’s largest and the only Certified Carbon Neutral agarbathi manufacturer, awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh to the winner of Wildlife Service Award to Fairoz, the forest watcher of Billigiri Ranganatha Temple tiger reserve at the Wildlife Service Awards and Tiger Cup cricket tournament held in Bengaluru recently. The felicitation was hosted in the presence of the former Indian Cricketer and current National Cricket Academy Director VVS Laxman, who was the chief guest. The ceremony also felicitated three conservationists namely, Ms. Sunitha (Bandipur), Akhilesh Chipli (Shimoga) and Colonel C M Muthanna (Kodagu) for their remarkable service.

The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Mr. Kumar Pushkar emphasised on Mr. Fairoz’ service as he was nominated by the Karnataka Forest Department purely on his meritorious service to wildlife conservation.

Speaking about the winner, Arjun Ranga, Managing Director, Cycle Pure Agarbathi, says, “We acknowledge the exemplary work by Fairoz. His dedication towards his job is an inspiring story for everyone. We at Cycle Pure salute heroes like him for his sincere service as he has played a pivotal role in reducing human leopard and human elephant conflict issues in the Chamarajanagar range of Billigiri Ranganatha Temple tiger reserve. We congratulate him for the award.”

Fairoz helped the Karnataka Forest Department release 15 leopards back into the forest after rescuing them. He has often demonstrated his ability to act quickly and wisely to stop unlawful tree cutting, poaching, and control forest fires in the vital tiger habitat. He is a devoted foot soldier, and has assisted the department in apprehending 22 poachers and obtaining illegally manufactured firearms. He has helped the Karnataka Forest Department maintain the rich flora and fauna of the nation by being sincere and effective. He was commended for his daring and unselfish commitment to the cause of conservation and honour him with the Wildlife Service Award 2022 as a young, dynamic, passionate, and dedicated.

The Cricketers for Wildlife Conservation and United Conservation Movement (UCM) recognised the service of this braveheart forest watcher. The Cricket Academy of Pathans, Harbhajan Singh Institute of Cricket, Global Academy of Technology and Tiger Ramesh also lent their support for the cause of conservation.

Tiger Cup tournament was conceptualized by former India batsman Sandeep Patil to help spread the word about wildlife conservation and inclusive sustainable development. The objective of the initiative is to encourage the youth to assist the government, largely including the participation of the forest department, to help conserve our forests and wildlife, especially the tiger. Apart from spreading awareness the initiative recognizes meritorious forest watchers and guards.

About NRRS

The Mysuru-based NRRS was founded by Shri N. Ranga Rao in 1948. A true visionary and philanthropist, Shri Ranga Rao created the ubiquitous Cycle Pure Agarbathi which has, today, become the largest selling incense stick brand in the world. From a home-grown enterprise, NR Group has evolved into a successfully run business conglomerate with an established presence in India and abroad. The Group has diversified into various business categories like functional air care products (Lia brand of room fresheners and car fresheners), wellness home fragrance products (IRIS) under Ripple Fragrances, floral extracts (NESSO), and Rangsons Technologies. Today, it is truly an Agarbathi to Aerospace conglomerate as it is also involved in making parts for defence helicopters. The organization has largely committed towards social responsibilities and fulfils them, through its charity arm ‘NR Foundation’. NR Group today is managed by the third generation of the Ranga family.

For more information on NR Group, please visit https://www.nrgroup.com

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