Wildlife Week celebrations, held under the theme “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife,” concluded on October 9 at the Syed Mehdi Memorial Auditorium Hall, Kargil.

CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Dr Jaffer Akhoon, attended the concluding programme as the Chief Guest. SSP Kargil Nitin Yadav, IPS, was the Guest of Honour, while ADC Kargil Ghulam Mohammad attended as the Special Guest. DFO/Wildlife Warden Ankit Sinha, IFS, officials of the Forest and Wildlife Department, school students and teachers also participated in the event.

DFO/Wildlife Warden Ankit Sinha highlighted Kargil’s unique biodiversity and emphasised the need for greater public participation in wildlife conservation.

He said various awareness activities, including educational programmes and exposure visits, had been organised for school students during Wildlife Week. A wildlife awareness video was also screened during the programme.
SSP Kargil Nitin Yadav stressed the importance of wildlife in maintaining ecological balance and called for efforts to minimise human-wildlife conflict. He urged students to protect all species, including birds and animals, and highlighted the potential of wildlife conservation and ecotourism.

ADC Kargil Ghulam Mohammad said the region was blessed with diverse wildlife and emphasised the need to protect these species to maintain environmental balance. He also highlighted the role of wildlife conservation in promoting tourism.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Dr Jaffer Akhoon underscored the importance of conserving even commonly seen species, such as sparrows and magpies, which play an important role in the ecosystem. Recalling earlier times, he said the arrival of sparrows was traditionally associated with the onset of spring, but their numbers had declined over the years due to changing environmental conditions and globalisation.

Dr Akhoon stressed that every species has an important role in nature and called for collective efforts to conserve biodiversity. Referring to the recent launch of a snow leopard conservation programme by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, he suggested that a similar programme be organised in Kargil to strengthen wildlife conservation efforts in the district.

He also called for timely compensation for people whose livestock or livelihoods are affected by wildlife attacks. Urging the Forest Department to take proactive measures, he emphasised the preservation of old plants and the development of parks with new plantations to expand green spaces and enhance biodiversity in the district.

During the programme, dignitaries visited stalls showcasing wildlife-related projects and awareness materials. School students actively participated by presenting their projects and learning about wildlife conservation. Cultural performances were also presented by students.

Prizes were distributed among students who had participated in various activities organised during Wildlife Week.