Kathmandu – The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has decided to celebrate the 23rd national wildlife week from April 14-20 with the theme, “Wildlife Conservation for Prosperity.”
On the first day of the week, Environment Minister Shakti Basnet will deliver a radio message. The department has planned a program to put up a hoarding board regarding wildlife conservation.
As part of the celebration, Langtang National Park is set to organise Red Panda Volleyball Competition. Laksa Chairman Santosh Ghale told Hakahaki that the volleyball competition is named after red panda with the objective to generate awareness of local people for the protection of the rare creature which is going extinct. He said the week will be culminated with the cake cutting ceremony to mark the birthday of red panda.
On the second day of the week, National Trust for Nature Conservation in coordination with Bird Conservation Nepal is organizing a bird watching program in Godavari, Lalitpur. Hariyo Ban Program under World Wildlife Fund (WWF) will organise a drawing/painting competition of secondary level students on the third day. The theme of drawing/painting should be wildlife conservation and promotion. On the fourth day, the DNPWC is scheduled to hold an interaction on wildlife protection during which environmental experts and people working in wildlife sector will participate.
On the fifth day, the department will organize a photography competition in association with Central Zoo, in Jawalakhel. An interaction on conservation of owl will be organised in Babarmahal on the sixth day. Chairman of Prakritika Sathi Raju Acharya will moderate an interaction on the protection of owl and its impact on the nature. Similarly, in partnership with Central Zoo, an interaction on the impact of climate change in Nepal and its wildlife conservation efforts will be held.
On the seventh day, a mass rally will be organised from Maitighar in association with WWF, Hariyo Ban Program. The rally titled ‘wildlife week’ and ‘environment protection’ will march through Baneshowr and conclude at Naya Baneshwor. A formal program will be held to mark the conclusion of the event during which people involved in conservation effort will be honoured with certificates.
According to the department, the key objective of the week is to raise awareness on the importance of wildlife conservation. Since 1996, the National Wildlife Week is being celebrated every first week of the Nepali New Year to increase the public participation in wildlife conservation. The week is observed from centre to all the protected areas.
