Ladakh hosts its first bird festival for preservation of fragile ecosystem

Leh, October 29

The Union Territory of Ladakh has hosted its first-ever bird festival for ensuring preservation of the fragile ecosystem and promoting the diverse biodiversity of the region, officials said on Friday.

Ladakh houses nearly 350 species of birds identified by various experts from time-to-time.

The festival was organised on Thursday as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations by the department of wildlife protection in Ladakh in collaboration with the Secure Himalaya project, they said.

While addressing a gathering here, Chief Executive Councillor Tashi Gyalson, who was also the chief guest, extended his gratitude to the department of wildlife protection for conducting the festival.

He stressed the need for encouraging avifauna as part of the Indian culture. Highlighting the importance of the festival, Gyalson stated that it should be a reminder for all of us to work collectively in preserving the fragile ecosystem and educate ourselves and promote the diverse biodiversity of Ladakh.

Speaking on the occasion, principal secretary, forest, ecology and environment, Pawan Kotwal, in his inaugural address, said this event is a first-of-its-kind in Ladakh.

As part of the festival, a photo exhibition was held on birds found in Ladakh. The animated storybook ‘Tashi the Explorer’ was also launched on the occasion.

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on emerging threats to avifauna in Ladakh, and the role of citizen science in bird monitoring and another discussion on birds in the culture and history of Ladakh was also held, the officials said. PTI