On October 2, a bird-watching event was organized as part of the state-level Wildlife Week-2026, held under the theme “Connected Habitats, Flourishing Wildlife.” A total of 109 participants from the Youth Hostel, Government Nutan College, and other educational institutions observed various bird species during the event.
Bird enthusiasts were informed about the identification, behavior, habitats, and ecological roles of the diverse bird species found in Van Vihar National Park. Approximately 54 bird species were observed on this occasion.
Notable species spotted included the Little Cormorant, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Indian Robin, Plum-headed Parakeet, Spotted Dove, and Black Drongo, among others.
Dr. Sangeeta Rajgir, Mohammad Khalik, Gaura Joshi (Bhopal Birds), and Sankalp Kishnani served as resource persons for the bird-watching session. They provided detailed insights into the nuances of bird watching, bird identification, and the importance of bird conservation. The program was conducted by Dr. Ruhi Haq, Assistant Director of Van Vihar.
The event aimed to raise awareness about birds among the general public and nature enthusiasts, while also inspiring people to conserve biodiversity. Participants showed keen interest in the activity and enjoyed the experience of connecting with nature.
Other Competitions and Activities: As part of Wildlife Week, a stone painting competition (open category) and a wooden tile painting competition (open category) on the theme “Wildlife of Madhya Pradesh” were organized at Van Vihar National Park on October 2, 2026, starting at 10 AM, with the aim of raising public awareness. Competitions were organized, attracting 65 and 116 participants, respectively.
Additionally, a “Treasure Hunt” (open category) was held, featuring 15 teams comprising a total of 121 participants.
A creative workshop and competition for school students took place at Van Vihar from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. During the workshop, subject expert Sanjay Sonkeshariya taught students how to create shapes of various birds, butterflies, and flowers using colored paper.
Arvind Anupam, a sculptor from the Regional Museum of Natural History, taught students how to sculpt pythons using clay modeling, while Ms. Pallavi Tarmakar provided training in stone painting. Participation figures stood at 48 for clay modeling, 27 for stone painting, and 15 for paper craft. Furthermore, a storytelling competition was organized for school students (Classes 9 to 12), with 17 participants taking part.
Programs for October 3, 2026: As part of Wildlife Week, various awareness and participatory programs will be held at Van Vihar on October 3, 2026. A program titled “Sounds of Van Vihar” for differently-abled students is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
Additionally, a “Youth Parliament” for school and college students will be organized from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM on the theme “Connected Habitats, Wildlife Flourishing.” An event titled “Stand for Wildlife” (open category) based on the same theme will also be held at Van Bhavan from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
