The Wildlife Week organised at Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, popularly known as Chatt Bir Zoo, concluded here on Sunday.
The programme at the Chatt Bir Zoo witnessed a wide range of activities with an emphasis on the importance of wildlife and its preservation. More than 130 students from 25 schools participated in various competitions. There was no entry fee and more than 16,000 people visited the zoo from October 3 to 8.Zoo authorities also organised a prize distribution function to mark the conclusion of the wildlife week celebrations at the MC Zoological Park. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Dr Kuldeep Kumar, was the chief guest of the function. He honoured the winners of various competitions.Nidhi Srivastava (IFS), Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Parks and Protected Areas Circle, Punjab, and Zoo Director M Saudhagar were present.The PCCF emphasised on the importance of protecting forests and wildlife for sustaining life on earth and appealed to people to extend their support for the conservation of wildlife. He inaugurated an enclosure for Chukar Partridges here which were put on display for public viewing. Saudhagar said, “We have been organising the National Wildlife Week every year. The motive is to generate an awareness regarding the importance of wildlife among children and the adults alike. We received a positive response from parents, amateur photographers and other nature enthusiasts,” said the Zoo Director. He said one could find the details about the animals available for adoption and their adoption fee at the zoo website — Chhatbirzoo.gov.in.He said the adoption fee was linked to the cost of feeding the animal.
New members in zoo
A pair of royale snake and chukar partridges went on public display for the first time at the zoo. The species have been bought in exchange for a painted stork and budgerigar from J&K Zoo. The new species arrived last month and were kept in quarantine. The health of the new inmates was observed to ensure that they do not catch any infection. Wolf, another new species bought from the Jaipur Zoo through animal exchange programme, is still under quarantine and will be put in the enclosure for public viewing soon