Zirakpur: Chhatbir Zoo holds awareness events on Tiger Day

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Zirakpur, July 29

The MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir Zoo celebrated Global Tiger Day today. Field director Neeraj Kumar said the aim to mark the day was to organise activities, contests, and programs to educate people about tiger conservation and the serious problems being faced regarding the magnificent cat. The zoo management explored its outreach activities and organised an online session named Tiger Talk.

The zoo organised an enlightening online session aimed to raise awareness about tiger conservation, featuring Harpal Singh, Wildlife-cum-Zoo Education Officer and Range Officer, along with Dr Aarti Chavda, Zoo Biologist, as keynote speakers. The session commenced with a warm welcome by Dr Monita Dhiman, highlighting the significance of Global Tiger Day and the critical role tigers play in maintaining ecosystem balance. Harpal Singh provided an overview of the current status of tiger populations in India, discussing key challenges such as habitat loss, poaching, and human wildlife conflict. He emphasised the importance of community involvement in conservation efforts and shared various strategies being implemented to protect tigers. Dr Aarti Chavda offered insights into the biological and ecological aspects of tigers, presenting fascinating details about their behaviour, social structure, and habitat requirements. She also discussed the ongoing research and conservation initiatives at MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir, demonstrating how these efforts contribute to the broader goal of tiger conservation.

An interactive Q amp; A session followed, allowing students and attendees to engage with the speakers and delve deeper into topics like the impact of climate change on tiger habitats and the role of zoos in conservation. The discussions were dynamic and informative, enhancing the participants with understanding of tiger conservation.

Field director Neeraj Kumar said that International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, was started in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. This summit brought together governments from tiger-range countries, conservation organisations, and experts to discuss measures to halt the alarming decline in tiger numbers.