The idea for National Wildlife Week came from the Indian Board of Wildlife in 1952 as a way to increase awareness about the long-term objective of protecting India’s wild animals. It began as Wildlife Day in 1955 and grew into a weeklong festival in 1957, taking place from the 2nd to the 8th of October ever since.
The need to observe this week and address the nationwide issues pertaining to interspecies conflict has never been more pertinent. Human-animal conflict is reaching its heyday due to rising populations, expanding cities, habitat loss, improper waste management, and climate change. To generate awareness among people on issues that concern our planet’s non-human cohabitants, Wildlife SOS conducted a variety of activities across the country during the Wildlife Week of 2023.
Awareness Programmes in Delhi and Maharashtra
Leopards sighted in human habitations have become a constant concern in Maharashtra. Being the most adaptable big cats, these felines have been spotted in sugarcane fields, inside open wells, within residences, and even in schools! With human settlements and agricultural lands expanding into forested zones, frequent encounters make conflict situations inevitable.
To mitigate the same, several awareness sessions conducted by Wildlife SOS have managed to inculcate the proper guidelines for local populations to follow when they sight a leopard. Our team based out of the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre (MLRC) organised more of such informative sessions during the week as well.
An important aspect of animal rescues is the ability to safely handle the proper equipment with ease. A rescue equipment training session was therefore held with the vigilant forest officers of Khed forest and the rescue team members of the village, who are at the forefront of human-animal conflict.
Additionally, our team travelled across Maharashtra from Sahyadri School in Khed, to G. P. School in Pimparkhed and the Hindmata Vidyalaya in Vadgaon Kandali to disseminate knowledge about leopards, the threats facing them, and possible ways of coexisting peacefully with these big cats.
We also organised a session at the Annasaheb Waghire College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Otur to let young participants know about the lived reality of human-leopard conflict, and the part they can play in mitigating the same.
Simultaneously, a two-member team from Wildlife SOS in the capital went to the Hansraj College, University of Delhi, to offer insights into the plight of elephants in cruel and illegal captivity. The session shed valuable light into phajaan, a cruel process that breaks the mind, body and spirit of an elephant in order to tame the animal. An interactive discussion followed the presentation made by our team, and included perceptive questions posed by the students. Nearly 35 students from the environmental society of Hansraj College called ‘Harithma’ were present for the informative session held.
Walkathon in Kashmir
Wildlife SOS worked with the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department in organising a walkathon on October 7, 2023 to commemorate both the Wildlife Week and the Wildlife SOS Ele Earth Walk. This walkathon encouraged participants to demonstrate their enthusiasm for wildlife as well as the actions one could take to make a difference for the voiceless animals of our country.
Wildlife SOS’ Ele Earth Walk initiative took place along with the wildlife walkathon to not only showcase appreciation for India’s diverse wildlife, but also to raise awareness about the gentle giants that traverse our landscape. The walk, which covered a distance of 5 kilometres, began at the Police Golf Course in Srinagar and ended in Nishat, a town that lies on the outskirts of the city. Several eminent personalities showed their heartfelt support as they participated in this unique event.
The walkathon united over 4,000 people from all over the country towards the cause to save India’s wildlife! This event also provided an opportunity to our team to spread awareness on the value of wildlife, and the urgent need to curtail the threats faced by animals.
Celebrating Wildlife in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh
Wildlife Week 2023 had our team operating out of the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, deeply immersed in conducting fun-filled activities. An extremely fulfilling interactive session was held with audiences at the Bannerghatta Zoo. The team members shared knowledge about our work with animals, and also set up a merchandise stall for wildlife enthusiasts to discover and own Wildlife SOS’ creative memorabilia.
To honour our long-standing corporate partnerships, the Wildlife SOS team interacted with several corporate volunteers who are seeking to make a sustainable change in the world. Members from HSBC and Northern Trust arrived at BBRC to closely experience the care and regular upkeep provided to rehabilitated sloth bears. Along with this, the attendees enthusiastically participated in a sack race as part of the Ele Earth Walk as well!
Wildlife SOS and volunteers from Northern Trust came together to also participate in a cleanup drive. The committed team picked up trash discarded near the Bannerghatta Zoo, as well as from the nearby temple areas.
On the occasion of this week, Wildlife SOS also organised a session at the Jyothi Niwas college in Bengaluru. There, students were made aware about the importance of wildlife conservation as well as the various kinds of educational and volunteer opportunities at our centres.
In yet another remarkable event, Wildlife SOS partnered with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department to hold an inter-school painting competition at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura. This was organised primarily to promote a sense of duty and respect for wild animals among participating students.
The theme for the competition was ‘Art for Wildlife Conservation’, and students from the following seven schools participated in it: Baldeo Public Senior Secondary School, Kanha Makhan Public School, SMT. G.D Public School, Suraj Govind Public School, Mount Hill Academy, Baluni 5 Days Boarding School, and Government Girls Inter College. All entries gathered high praise, and three winners were rewarded for their profound paintings by the principal guest.
If you too want to join us as wildlife warriors and make a difference for India’s voiceless animals, consider making a donation!
