Name of the Event: Wildlife Fiesta
Organised by: Haritima: The Environmental Awareness Society
Date of the Event: 3rd October, 2024
Duration/Event Timing: 1pm- 2pm
Venue of the Event: Multipurpose Hall, C- Block
Name of Convener: Dr. Monika Koul
Event Description: The event commenced with lamp lighting by the guests and our college faculty of Botany and Zoology Department to mark an auspicious start for Wildlife Fiesta, 2024. Our first speaker of the day, Mr. Baiju Raj delivered an inspiring talk on biodiversity and conservation, sharing his journey and emphasizing the need to protect nature’s variety of species. He discussed the foundation of Wildlife SOS, a non-profit organization established in 1995 by Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, initially focused on ending the exploitation of dancing bears and later expanding to rescue and rehabilitate various wildlife species.
Mr. Baiju credited his father for instilling in him a deep compassion for animals and inspiring his career in conservation. He encouraged the audience to learn more about species and their ecological roles through research, fieldwork, and citizen science. His insights highlighted the urgency of conserving biodiversity and the importance of individual and collective efforts in ensuring a sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Following him, Dr. Samir Kumar Sinha, Senior Director at the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), emphasized the importance of coexistence in wildlife conservation. As human populations expand into natural habitats, human-wildlife conflict (HWC) has increased, driven by habitat fragmentation, resource competition, and climate change. HWC often leads to crop damage, human-wildlife casualties, and ecological imbalances.
Dr. Sinha highlighted the need to foster harmony by integrating local communities, restoring wildlife corridors, and adopting innovative technologies like GPS tracking and early warning systems. Coexistence ensures biodiversity conservation, economic benefits through ecotourism, and long-term sustainability.
He stressed that conservation requires collaboration between humans and wildlife, advocating for a shift from conflict to coexistence to secure a balanced future. “Conservation is saving wildlife with people,” he concluded.A closing statement was given by Dr. Monika Koul, in which she gave her viewpoint towards the concerns for biodiversity, while appreciating our invited guests for their significant contribution to save wildlife.
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