Children to be sensitised on nature and wildlife conservation

Mysuru: Retired Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) and Central Zoo Authority Member C.S. Yalakki stressed the urgent need to sensitise people and children on environmental threats for a better future.

Speaking after inaugurating the summer camp organised at Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysuru Zoo) this morning, he warned that the earth is facing environmental threats caused by intensive agriculture and rampant usage of chemical fertilisers and mechanisation of agriculture in order to enhance farm output to meet the food security needs of burgeoning population.  

Earth is also facing threat like wildlife poaching, habitat degradation, deforestation, air, water and land pollution, acid rain, and climate change are also threatening thousands of species. The need of the hour is to spread awareness among the people about the ill-effects of damaging the environment besides the protecting of flora and fauna, he said

He appreciated Mysuru Zoo authorities for taking lead in this regard and organising summer camps on these issues unlike other summer camp organisers who focuses on fun. He bemoaned that forest area is shrinking every year due to rapid urbanisation.

Director of Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) Dr G.N. Indresh also lauded the efforts of Mysuru Zoo for organising such a camp focusing on nature and wildlife conservation and biological diversity and arranging visits to Karanji Lake Nature Park, RMNH and on themes of bird watching, tree/ plants identification, animal behaviour studies and on other subjects.

As many as 65 children are taking part in the first batch of summer camp that began today. It will be held till Apr.30 from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. The second batch for another 65 children will be held from May 5 to 14.