Environment Minister attends World Wildlife Day Celebrations at National Zoological Park
Emphasising
that India has always been at the forefront of conservation of
wildlife, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, said that common people too
had been protecting the forests and wildlife even before India got its
independence. Addressing the World Wildlife Day celebrations at the
National Zoological Park here today, Shri Dave said that the number of
lions in Gir stands at 522. “India has the highest number of tigers in
the world and other species such as one-horned rhinoceros.
Conservation of wildlife is our collective responsibility and duty”, the
Minister added. He also urged the gathering to fight all obstacles to
wildlife conservation.
Earlier, a symbolic ceremonial burning of the seized wildlife articles
was organized at the National Zoological Park to mark the occasion.
Some of the articles incinerated include – 100 leopard skin, 5 tiger
skin, 2 lion skin, 1451 snakes skin, 10 elephant tusks and 30 kg tiger
bones. The articles will continue to burn for three days. A committee
has been formed to oversee the burning. State Governments have also
been requested to organize inviolable programmes, including symbolic
incineration of seized wildlife articles on the occasion. The theme for
this year’s celebration of World Wildlife Day is “Listen to the Young
Voices”.
The Government has been providing financial assistance to State
Governments to supplement their share for the purpose of habitat
improvement and conservation of wildlife. Some of the assistance is
through dedicated “Projects”, namely, Project Tiger and Project
Elephant. The budgetary allocation for wildlife conservation has been
enhanced from Rs. 346.38 crore in 2015-16, Rs. 475 crore in 2016-17 and
Rs. 522.50 crore for 2017-18.
Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, in association with
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, National Zoological Park, National Museum
of Natural History, Environmental Information System (ENVIS), United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), TRAFFIC, People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Wildlife
Protection Society of India (WPSI) and Sulabh International organised
various competitions for school/ college students including ‘Divyang’
students at the National Zoological Park. Films on different aspects of
wildlife conservation and illegal trade are also being screened since
February 27, 2017 at the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh, New Delhi,
for school students to raise awareness among them regarding the
importance of wildlife conservation.
India is renowned for the conservation of animals and birds. Wildlife is
an integral part of our life. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal agency in the administrative
structure of the Central Government for the planning, promotion,
co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of India's environmental
and forestry policies and programmes. Not only the animals and birds,
forests are also worshipped in the form of ‘Sacred Groves’. Several
communities like Bishnois of Rajasthan, the Maldhari communities of Gir
in Gujarat have contributed immensely towards the conservation and
protection of wildlife. The exemplary role played by the millions of
people residing in the vicinity of forests is laudable and has resulted
in increased populations of endangered animals like tigers, elephants,
rhinos and other species.
Charge d’Affaires, US Embassy, Ms. Mary Kay Carlson, Additional Director
General, MoEF&CC, Dr. Anil Kumar, officers of MoEF&CC, Wildlife
Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and students from Delhi schools were also
present on the occasion.
***
HK
(Release ID :158828)
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