World Wildlife Day Celebrated at Astarang
World Wildlife Day was observed at Patalada Nodal High School under Astarang Block of Puri District on Friday. The event was organized as a grand awareness program involving teachers, students, and others, with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The event was inaugurated by senior journalist Shri Dushasan Nayak through the lighting of a ceremonial lamp. The program began with WWF volunteer Nahida Sabnam providing information about wildlife. Following that, a drawing competition on wildlife was conducted among the students.
Later, a discussion session was held under the chairmanship of the school’s headmaster Shri Kamadev Pradhan. Topics discussed included wildlife protection in forests, the nesting and conservation of Olive Ridley turtles in the sea, fishing methods using nets and boats in the sea, wildfire prevention in forests, and the protection of natural beauty.
Shobhakara Behera, an honorary wildlife conservator and environmentalist from Puri district, expressed his views during the discussion. There was also deliberation on how to increase the population of endangered wildlife species.
The chief guests, journalist Shri Dushasan Nayak and Nahida Sabnam, awarded students who had excelled in the drawing competition. Finally, a nature-themed dance and musical performance was presented by the ‘Green Life Rural Organization.’ The overall coordination of the events was handled by Bishnu Charan Biswal, Pavitra Biswal, teacher Sanatan Mallick, and Geetanjali Barik.