Observing World Sparrow Day, Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh in collaboration with ALTOA and Lamdon Model Senior Secondary School organised an awareness program for students on March 20 at Lamdon School, Auditorium hall.

Dr. Stanzin Dawa, Principal, Lamdon school was the chief guest, and Tsetan Angchuk, President ALTOA was the guest of honour.

Sharing the concern about sparrows, Dr. Stanzin Dawa said, “The population of the sparrow is considered as one of the largest population, but it has been declining very fast. Earlier sparrows used to live with us as our friends and families near our houses, they used to build their nest on the roof and holes of our traditional houses, but with the advent of concrete houses and structures, we have disturbed the ecosystem which has reduced their population.” 

Advising the students he said that the long-term goal shouldn’t know the birds only, but it must be knowing their culture, lifestyle, and habitat.

He thanked WCBCL for adding 40 to 45 more bird species to the list of birds of Ladakh.
Tsetan Angchuk termed birds and animals as the ornaments of Ladakh. He said, “We are celebrating birds and mammals day to create awareness. Because they also have the right to live on the earth as we have. Therefore conservation of wildlife of Ladakh is the main responsibility of the younger generation.” 

He requested the students to read about the sparrow-like habitat, lifespan, and food, etc. to celebrate this day in an effective way.

Talking about the reason behind celebrating World Sparrow day, Lobzang Vissudha, President WCBCL informed that in 2010 Mohammad Dilawar (a conservationist) initiated Sparrow Day in India. Dilawar noticed that the day of the rare birds is celebrated, but the day of common birds like house sparrows are often ignored which could also become a rare species in the future by ignoring them. Therefore, he decided to celebrate 20th March as World Sparrow Day. Since then this day is celebrated as World Sparrow Day every year.

He said, “WCBCL was established eight years ago, since then we have been creating awareness about the wildlife in Ladakh to conserve and protect them. Today I could say that we are sharing the best platform because students are the future guard of our rich wildlife”.

“It is very concern for us that the foreigners are writing books on our birds and mammals, but we are even not aware of them. According to them, there are 310 bird species found in Ladakh, out of which only 60-70 birds have the local name (in Ladakhi), which means that our relationship with the birds is very weak. In these seven to eight years, we have started birding, (a beautiful word) and soon it became popular in Ladakh. In future, birding tourism will also boost because Ladakh is not only a barren and dry land, around 25% birds of the Indian Sub Continent found in Ladakh” he added.

The members of the WCBCL organised a drawing, painting, and essay competition for the students on the theme ‘I Love Sparrow’. Grand photo exhibitions on the birds and mammals of Ladakh were the main attractions of the programme.