The Department of Forest and Climate Change is celebrating the 70th Wildlife Week from 02 to 07 October, which has been inaugurated on 2 October in Shaurya Auditorium, Doranda.

Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Jharkhand was present as the Chief Guest of the inaugural ceremony. On the occasion, Satyajit Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden, Jharkhand; Ashok Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Human Resource Development, Jharkhand , D K Saxena Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Research & Training, and S.R. Natesh, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Jharkhand were present.

All the senior officers of the Forest Department, more than 500 students and teachers from various schools of Ranchi, members of Joint Forest Management Committee and Eco Development Committee from various districts of the state, members of non-governmental organizations, forest employees etc. participated in the inaugural ceremony.

Addressing the gathering on this occasion, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden, Jharkhand informed that Jharkhand is a state rich in water, forest and land and is also famous for wildlife diversity. Singh requested all the people present that it is the responsibility of all the people of Jharkhand to protect this important diversity of Jharkhand and everyone's participation is necessary in this. S.R. Natesh, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Jharkhand highlighted the specialty of the wildlife of Jharkhand state through a PPT presentation.

Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force, Jharkhand, the Chief Guest of the inaugural ceremony of the 70th Wildlife Week, while addressing the school students present, appealed to them to be aware and sensitive towards the conservation of forests and wildlife. In his address, he said that there are immense possibilities of wildlife and eco-tourism in Jharkhand, for the development of which, the Forest Department and the State Government are bringing many schemes to strengthen the arrangements. On this occasion, Dr. Srivastava, while extending his best wishes to all the people of Jharkhand, praised and thanked the tribals and natives of Jharkhand for their contribution in the conservation of forests and wildlife.

On this occasion, the students of Lady KC Roy Memorial School and DAV Alok School presented the message of importance of wildlife conservation through drama and dance. Artists of Jharkhand's traditional Chhau dance also graced the program with an attractive dance with the message of wildlife conservation.

For their excellent work in wildlife conservation, six forest guards and four members of Joint Forest Management Committee and Eco Development Committee were honoured by the chief guest with incentives and certificates. Chief guest Dr. Srivastava appreciated the contribution of all the honoured personnel.

On the occasion of 70th Wildlife Week, Wildlife Division, Jharkhand has also organized a 5 and 10 km walkathon on 06.10.2024, which will start at 06:00 am from Palash Auditorium located in Doranda Forest Building Complex. Free online registration has been arranged for the participants interested in participating in the walkathon by scanning the QR code on the website of Forest Department and Directorate of Information and Public Relations. About 2,000 participants including 600 school students are expected to participate in this special event.