Kids for Tigers, Amravati and Nature Conservation Society, Amravati (NCSA) organised various during Wildlife Week – Paper Presentation, Nature Photography Contest, Nature Photography Exhibition, Breakfast with Birds (a nature trail) were organised. The events were held in conjunction with the Melghat Tiger Reserve, Department of Zoology, SGB Amravati University Amravati, and Vidyabharti Mahavidhyalaya Amravati.

On October 2, Breakfast with Birds was organised at the Wadali Lake in Pohara Malkhed Reserve Forest. The event was open to KFT kids, their parents and enthusiasts in general. During the four kilometre walk from Wadali Lake to Stone Boy Point 35 bird species and 30 plant species were observed. On October 4, a Nature Photography Contest with covering topics like wild flowers, landscape, wildlife and birds were covered. Seventeen participants displayed their work at the event. Sachin Deshmukh’s Small Green Bee-eater won the first prize; the second and third prizes were given away to Mukund Phatak and Praveen Chaoji for their pictures of gaur and feeding calf and tiger respectively. The images were exhibited at the Nature Photography Exhibition between October 5 and 7. held at the Recreation Hall of Vidyabharti Mahavidhyalaya Amravati. 257 pictures were displayed at this exhibition. Around 1,750 people visited the exhibition.

At the Paper Presentation on Environmental Conservation – A Students Perspective held on October 3, 17 students representing various colleges and institutes presented their papers on global warming, conservation of medicinal plants and threats in wildlife conservation. The event was held at the AV theatre of Amravati University. Abhishek Garg, R. Kaveri and Pankaj Dhole received the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes respectively. Mr. Omanwar from Department of Physics, Dr. Manik from Botany Department and Prof. Vaibhav Maske judged the event. Nitin Kakodkar, Field Director, Melghat Tiger Reserve and Dr. G. N. Vankhede Head of Zoology Department were present at the event.

We would like to thank the Kids for Tigers, Amravati Team, Vishal Bansod, Amit Wadatkar, Kishor Dudhe, Prashant Holey, Ujwal Bhadange and Adwait Kewale for making the celebrations a success.

Report by Vishal Bansod, KFT Co-ordinator, Amravati