Nearby Jhansi | As World Wetlands Day, which is celebrated every year on February 2, approaches, various wildlife parks and natural reserves in Uttar Pradesh are gearing up for different events. Starting from today at the Nawabganj Chandrashekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary in Unnao, these events, collectively called ‘Nature and Bird Festival’, will continue for the whole week.

World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the United Nations’ signing of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971.

Locally, the Nature and Bird Festival is organized in the submerged area of Govind Sagar Dam. On this occasion senior officials of the Forest Department emphasized on the participation of the society for the conservation and protection of nature and birds. This will establish a better balance between humans and birds and nature. They described plants as invaluable for the environment.

Addressing the program, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Department Sudhir Kumar Sharma said that the conservation of wetlands and birds is very important. Without it, the environmental balance will deteriorate, which can have dangerous consequences. Therefore, every person has to play a role in this work. He said that we should all welcome the guest birds as hosts. Take care of them and provide them with a good environment. 

He instructed the Regional Director of Social Forestry Gautam Singh to send the eco-tourism plan. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Department also said that the department’s very old rest house in Madanpur should be renovated in the old way. 

Chief Conservator of Forests Bundelkhand KK Singh said that harmony between nature and humans is very important. This is also the biggest challenge at this time. Therefore, such programs are being organized from time to time to prepare the society for its responsibility. During the event, Forest Conservator Kailash Prakash, DFO Hamirpur, Orai along with the district’s departmental senior officers and employees were present. On this occasion, the children saw the guest birds in Govind Sagar Dam and obtained important information about their features.

Bundelkhand region is heavenly abode for Vultures

On one hand, pollution and other reasons are threatening the existence of various birds, while on the other hand, the dense green forests and water bodies between the high mountains of the Vindhya mountain range located in the district have become their conservation site. Here, vultures are living with their new generation in the nests of stones near various rivers. Similarly, sarus cranes were also seen near the ponds.

On the occasion of Nature and Bird Day yesterday, intellectuals and senior officials of the Forest Department expressed concern over the extinct birds and also appealed to the society for their protection and conservation.

If seen in the true sense, the Lalitpur district situated in Bundelkhand has been a very suitable place for domestic and foreign birds for years. Every year in winters, Siberian birds fly thousands of kilometers and come to the water bodies here. After traveling for a few days and reproducing, they return to their country with their children. Sometimes, the vultures who used to fly in the sky for hours in the evening reached the brink of exhaustion, the forests and rivers of the district have saved them.

 According to the report sent to the senior departmental officials from the district headquarters last year, in the wild areas of the district, Bharoun near the Narayani river, Muchkund cave in Dhaorra, Dhasan river near Madawara, Dhaorri Sagar in Madawara, eastern Phatan Odi river in Madanpur, Dhasan river in Madawara Goratha, Dhasan river in Madanpur and near Jamni, between the mountains, more than a hundred nests made of stones and trees, various species of vultures (Jatayu) live. 

Their number is around 150. Out of these, 100 are adults and 50 are immature. Many times, these birds are seen flying in the sky in a splendid manner. According to the experts, this bird gets plenty of meat from wild animals.