Initiative educates students on birds, wetland conservation & avian ecology
Mysore/Mysuru: Intending to catch young minds early and create awareness about the sensitive wetland ecology, the Forest Department has launched ‘Pakshi Mitra,’ a new environmental education programme at the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.
The initiative seeks to familiarise Government school students from Mysuru and Mandya districts with birds, wetlands and the importance of protecting natural ecosystems.
It is modelled after the ‘Yuva Mitra’ programme at Bandipur Tiger Reserve that earned recognition from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for creating awareness on wildlife conservation among students.
Role of birds in ecosystem
Initiated by the Mysuru Wildlife Division, the ‘Pakshi Mitra’ programme brings students from schools to the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Srirangapatna taluk, where they are introduced to the importance of birds and their role in the ecosystem. A new bus has been purchased exclusively to transport students from their schools to the sanctuary.
The ‘Yuva Mitra’ programme, launched three years ago at Bandipur Tiger Reserve, has emerged as a successful initiative. It focuses on educating Government high school students from forest-edge villages in Gundlupet taluk about wildlife conservation and environmental protection.
Under the programme, students are taken directly from their schools to Bandipur for safari trips, after which resource persons conduct interactive sessions to share knowledge about forests, wildlife and conservation.
Inspired by the success of ‘Yuva Mitra,’ the ‘Pakshi Mitra’ programme has now been introduced at Ranganathittu and is already receiving an encouraging response.
From classes V to X
Government school students from classes V to X from Mysuru and Mandya districts are brought to the bird sanctuary, where they are taken on boat safaris to observe birds in their natural habitat. After the safari, environmental awareness sessions are held in the auditorium to familiarise students with the sanctuary.
During these sessions, environmental education officers explain the significance of the islands within the sanctuary, the bird species that inhabit them, migratory birds, the importance of wetlands and the presence of crocodiles.
Students are also taught about bird breeding, life cycles, feeding habits and other aspects of avian ecology.
The Forest Department arranges breakfast and lunch for the participating students and ensures that they are safely dropped back at their respective schools by evening. As the programme is organised entirely by the Department, students are not charged any fees.
Apart from providing free boat safaris, the initiative seeks to nurture curiosity among children about birds and nature. So far, over 1,200 students have participated in the programme and many of them have developed a keen interest in birdlife and environmental conservation.
During a recent visit to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, the Forest Minister directed officials to launch an initiative to educate students about birds and their importance. A new bus was purchased and an Environmental Education Officer has been appointed to conduct awareness sessions, while another staff member has been assigned to bring students from their schools.
Students are taught about the role of birds in maintaining ecological balance, the diversity of bird species, the significance of Ranganathittu and the unique characteristics of the birds found there. They are also introduced to topics such as bird life cycles, migratory patterns and other aspects of avian ecology. Meals are also arranged for the participating children. — Dr. I.B. Prabhugowda, DCF, Mysuru Wildlife Division
This post was published on April 7, 2026 6:41 pm