The National Wildlife Week is celebrated from the 2nd to the 8th of October every year in India. This week aims at protecting and preserving India’s flora and fauna. Wildlife Week was conceptualized in 1952 with a long-term goal to safeguard the lives of the endangered and threatened species of animals.
The Indian Government has established an Indian Board of Wildlife, which strives to spread awareness in order to preserve the wildlife. The week comprises workshops to make people of every age comprehend the complexities of wildlife.
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The Wildlife Week 2021
The Wildlife Week 2021 took place from October 2nd to October 8th. It was the 67th Wildlife Week that was held in 2021 with a theme – “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.” Currently, indigenous peoples maintain over 28 per cent of the world’s land area, including some of the planet’s most biologically intact forests. These areas are important not just for their economic and psychological well-being but also for their cultural identities. It hence becomes vital to conserve these natural resources.
Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, inaugurated Wildlife Week 2021 on October 2nd, 2021, at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. On this occasion, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has opened the Dachigam National Park for the public. To facilitate entry to the park, authorization will be provided through an internet portal managed by the J&K Forest and Wildlife Department.
Importance of the Wildlife Week
India is a biological hotspot, which means, it is home to a large variety of animal and plant species. India’s flora and fauna are highly diversified and constitute more than 7 percent of the world’s biodiversity. It also incredibly accounts for 7.4 per cent of the world’s fauna. This highly biologically diversified country requires proper education and awareness to preserve this rich cover. Hence, the wildlife week was conceptualized.
This week is commemorated to increase the awareness among the common mass regarding the role of wildlife in maintaining nature’s equilibrium. Any damage done to wildlife over a prolonged period of time endangers the entire ecosystem. So it is critical to protect it systematically, and through heart and soul. There is a symbiotic relationship between the forest, forest-dwelling animals, ecosystem services, and humans. With indigenous people now managing roughly 28 percent of forest land, the World Wildlife Week’s mission is now much more relevant and significant.
Forests, forest species, and the livelihoods that rely on them are today at the intersection of many global crises, ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss and the health, social, and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of this makes it extremely essential to increase awareness regarding wildlife week amongst people.
Also, refer to the following links:
| Climate, Vegetation & Wildlife of India | Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 |
| National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) | World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) |
| Species in News | List of Indian State Birds |
History of the Wildlife Week
The first Wildlife Week was commemorated in 1957 in India. The 67th Wildlife Week took place in 2021. The Indian Board of Wildlife established Wildlife Week in 1952 to increase awareness about the long-term aims of wildlife protection throughout India. Wildlife Day was first observed in 1955, but later in 1957, it was renamed Wildlife Week.
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Frequently Asked Questions on the Wildlife Week
What was the theme of Wildlife Week 2021? How significant was it?
The theme for Wildlife Week in India, 2021, was “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.” Between 200 and 350 million people across the globe live in or near forested regions and rely on the numerous ecosystem services provided by forests and forest species for their livelihoods and to meet their most basic needs, such as food, shelter, electricity, and medicines. Hence it is extremely important to save natural resources and spread awareness.
Which organization conceptualized Wildlife week?
The wildlife week was conceptualized and brought into effect on the insistence and ideas of the Indian Board Of Wildlife in the year 1952. Wildlife Day was first observed in 1955, but in 1957 it was renamed Wildlife Week.
How can you celebrate Wildlife Week?
Share with your friends and family your thoughts and ideas of wildlife preservation. Spread the word, especially among children and young people. They are the world’s future leaders and should be well accustomed to the ongoing crises of the world. Animal conservation is one such crisis. The young generation deserves a future in which people coexist peacefully with the wildlife.
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