Mysuru: As part of the World Wildlife Day, Forest Department had organised a function at Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram here on Saturday. Presiding over the function, CCF P.B. Karunakar disclosed that the number of wildlife, including Tiger, Leopard and Elephant, had increased in the State owing to the Government and Forest Department taking utmost care in protection of wildlife and mentioned that the State stood top most in that context in the country. He added that Project Tiger to protect the species was working well.

Continuing, Karunakar said that the theme of the day was ‘Protection of endangered Big Cats’ to create awareness among people on protection of wildlife. He regretted that humans had encroached upon the forest area inhabited by wildlife thus disturbing their habitat and movement resulting in straying often into human habitat.

A photo expo on wildlife was also organised at the venue along with a documentary on wildlife. The first three winners of the photo expo were Harsha, Manjunth Hegde and Priya Sharma.

APCCF Jagathram, DCFs Dr. K.T. Hanumanthappa, V. Yedukondalu, ACF Prakash and others were present.

A book on ‘Life of Leopard’ was released on the occasion.