Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Department of Forests & Wildlife, Chandigarh Administration, inaugurated the ‘Wildlife Week’ at Sukhna Lake by waving a green flag to a colourful group of 100 School children dressed as birds and animals, who walked alongside the lake carrying placards of animal rights and spreading the message of living in harmony with many and nature.
The programme in the morning hours at Sukhna Lake started with a ‘Jungle Dance’ by students of Government Model Sr. Sec. School, Dhanas and this endeavor was jointly organized by the Department of Forests & Wildlife in collaboration with Yuvsatta-NGO, Eco Clubs of Government Model Sr. Sec. School, Dhanas, Govt. Girls Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 18C & St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Chandigarh. Prominent amongst those who participated in the endeavor included Dr. Abdul Qayum, Dy. Conservator of Forests and Pramod Sharma, Coordinator of Yuvsatta.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi’s message of ‘Be the Change’, Debendra Dalai said we’re growing up in a world with increasing habitat loss, deforestation and overexploitation, which is threatening mother earth’s rich biodiversity. He added that today’s ‘Wildlife Week’ message for young ones is that they should become animal rights advocates and also advocates for Biodiversity Conservation.
As animals have the right to exist without the fear of being mistreated, exploited or exterminated. And at the same time biodiversity of existing flora and fauna is also conserved.
Dalai also shared that “Wildlife conservation is ingrained in our ethos and has always been an integral part of our tradition and culture. Our holy Constitution also enshrines this philosophy by including conservation of forest and wildlife as one of the fundamental duties of every Indian.”
