Celebrated National Wildlife Week at IIT Gandhinagar

IIT Gandhinagar, through its Dr Kiran C Patel Centre for Sustainable Development, hosted a series of events to celebrate National Wildlife Week from October 2nd to 8th, 2024. The celebration aimed to raise awareness and promote wildlife conservation through various educational and engaging activities. More than 200 people, including IIT Gandhinagar students, staff, residents, and college students from the Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar region, participated in the week-long celebration.

The week-long wildlife awareness programme kicked off on October 2nd with a Bird Watching Session in collaboration with 16Pixels Club, the student photography club at IIT Gandhinagar. Over 50 participants from the IIT Gandhinagar community, including students, faculty, staff, and their families, joined the session. Expert bird watchers Dr Bharat Jethva, Ms Janki Teli, Dr Virag Vyas, and Mr Naushad Theba guided participants through campus trails. The event highlighted the fascinating world of birds, discussing aspects such as the significance of beak designs, feeding habits, migration, and nesting patterns. The experts also discussed nature-inspired design principles.

Later that afternoon, an interaction session on the theme “Rescuing the Wild: Women in Active Wildlife Conservation” was held, encouraging women and youth from the campus and surrounding village communities to participate. The session featured two of the three renowned “Lion Queens of Gir” – Ms Rasilaben Vadher, Range Forest Officer and Ms Kiran Pithiya, Range Forest Officer, Gir West Division, along with Ms Rajal Pathak, Range Forest Officer, Gir East Division. They shared their experiences of rescuing wildlife, particularly lions and leopards, and discussed challenges in wildlife crime management, community involvement in conservation, and the unique relationship between the people of Saurashtra and the lions of Gir.

The third event, held on October 4th, focused on “Let’s Know Our Wildlife” and welcomed 50 students from the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Gandhinagar. In collaboration with Earthwise Society (the student club from the Earth Sciences Department at IIT Gandhinagar) and coordinated by the Gujarat Council of Science and Technology (GUJCOST), the session featured a documentary screening showcasing India’s rich wildlife diversity. The screening was followed by an interactive quiz competition, which saw enthusiastic participation from the ITI college students.

These activities were part of National Wildlife Week, celebrated annually from October 2nd to 8th, to protect and preserve India’s wildlife. The week was first conceptualised in 1952 to safeguard the lives of endangered and threatened species and remains a crucial effort in conserving India’s rich natural heritage.

The celebrations at IIT Gandhinagar also featured an interaction session on the theme of “Wildlife Wisdom” by Prof C N Pandey, Coordinator of the Centre and Professor of Practice, Earth Sciences and HSS Department, IIT Gandhinagar, on October 7th, followed by an expert lecture by Dr S P Yadav, Director General, International Big Cat Alliance and a photographic display on campus wildlife on October 8th. Prof Pandey discussed how human communities protect nature through their traditional knowledge systems, promoting sustainable resource use and conservation. He cited examples of animals and birds acting as stewards of nature, such as seed dispersal by birds and mammals, and ecosystem engineering by beavers and coral polyps.

Dr S P Yadav, a distinguished wildlife conservationist known for his contributions to the conservation of big cats, particularly tigers, emphasised the integration of technology to enhance wildlife protection efforts and ensure the survival of big cats in the wild. He shared that technologies provide real-time data, helping to monitor big cat populations, understand their movement patterns, and protect critical habitats.

These events engaged the entire community and inspired collective efforts toward environmental protection and wildlife conservation. They brought together diverse participants to explore the vital role of wildlife and conservation efforts. The series of events not only showcased the importance of India’s rich biodiversity but also highlighted the crucial intersection of technology, traditional knowledge, and community involvement in sustaining and protecting our natural heritage.

About KPCSD: Dr Kiran C Patel Centre for Sustainable Development
At IIT Gandhinagar, we are dedicated to addressing pressing challenges in sustainability and environmental conservation. Through research, education, and community outreach, the Centre aims to create a positive impact on society by fostering sustainable development. Its major research thrust areas include water, pollution and waste management, energy, climate change, natural resources, wildlife, and ecosystems.