Dehradun: Wildlife Week is celebrated annually in the first week of October to promote the protection and conservation of wildlife. A Wildlife Week program was organized at the Dehradun Zoo on Friday, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. During the program, CM Dhami announced that the compensation for wildlife victims in the state will be increased from ₹6 lakh to ₹10 lakh. The Uttarakhand government has agreed to this proposal. The Forest Department will present the proposal in the upcoming cabinet meeting and, upon approval, will implement it.
During the Wildlife Week program, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that wildlife is an integral part of our faith, culture, and tradition. Our gods and goddesses have also preached the message of coexistence with them. Goddess Durga’s vehicle is a lion, Lord Ganesha’s vehicle is a mouse, Goddess Saraswati’s vehicle is a swan, Lord Kartikeya’s vehicle is a peacock, Goddess Lakshmi’s owl, and the King of Snakes, along with Nandi, seated on the neck of Lord Mahadev, symbolize the unity between humans and the living world in our eternal culture. This is why wildlife conservation has been a natural part of India’s way of life since ancient times.
CM Dhami said that approximately 14.77 percent of the state’s land is protected as six national parks, seven wildlife sanctuaries, and four conservation reserves, while the entire country’s total area is only 5.27 percent. This difference is a clear evidence of our state’s environmental commitment. He said that Uttarakhand’s greenery and its freely roaming wildlife attract millions of tourists from India and abroad throughout the year. Along with taking care of tourist amenities, the state government is committed to maintaining the natural beauty of the forests and protecting wildlife.
CM Dhami said that, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is working to balance economy, ecology, and technology, while simultaneously conserving natural resources and development. The Chief Minister directed the Forest Department to identify and develop at least one new tourist destination in each district, making it accessible to tourists without altering its natural landscape. The Chief Minister also stated that work is underway on a new eco-tourism model in the state, designed to connect people with forests without harming nature.
The CM noted that the state government’s collective efforts have led to an encouraging increase in the number of rare wild animals such as tigers, leopards, elephants, and snow leopards. However, the challenges of human-wildlife conflict are also increasing. The government is using modern technology and scientific measures to mitigate this conflict. The Forest Department is being provided with drone and GPS technology to better monitor and protect wildlife. New livelihood opportunities are being created for local people so that they can become active partners in protecting forests and wildlife.
The state government had promised to create one lakh youth as CM Young Eco-Preneurs, and now this scheme is bearing fruit. Under this scheme, work has progressed towards transforming skills such as nature guides, drone pilots, wildlife photographers, eco-tourism, and wildlife tourism into enterprises. Additionally, wildlife-related educational trips are being organized for students through eco-clubs in every district of the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also called for a lifestyle for the environment from the world stage, which is not just a slogan but a mantra for saving Mother Earth. The Chief Minister appealed to all tourists visiting Uttarakhand to refrain from littering whenever they go on a jungle safari or to any religious tourist destination.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said that saving forests and wildlife is everyone’s responsibility. He said that the state can progress only through the combination of economy, ecology and technology.
