Srinagar : With a theme titled ‘Wildlife Conservation through Co-Existence’, the Jammu and Kashmir wildlife department is set to observe wildlife week from October 02 to October 08.
A senior wildlife official said that a number of calls they receive regarding wild animal sightings often turn out to be false alarms, and that to address that, they are focusing on increasing awareness about wildlife behavior, co-existence, and conservation.
The week-long event, as per wildlife officials, will focus on wildlife conservation efforts, with a strong stress on spreading awareness among the public.
The official said that apart from routine activities like painting competitions, debates, seminars, cleanliness and other events, they have planned bird watching events for visitors at wetlands, opening of specified trekking zones, including the cycle pedalling.
“The department has also introduced new initiatives, including bird-watching tours at key wetland sites, trekking in designated wildlife zones, and cycle-pedaling events to promote eco-friendly travel through nature reserves,” he said.
Officials said that human-wildlife interaction was frequent in Jammu and Kashmir, and the increasing urbanization in wildlife-prone areas was leading to more such frequent encounters between humans and animals.
“We are hopeful the events scheduled for this year’s wildlife week will instil a deeper understanding of how humans can live in harmony with wildlife. The awareness is aimed to prevent unnecessary conflicts and ensure the protection of both people and animals,” the official added.
Pertinently, the wildlife week is an annual event that focuses on raising awareness and engaging the public in efforts to protect and preserve the region’s rich biodiversity
