The National Zoological Park (NZP), New Delhi, organised the 15th edition of the ‘Sunday Bird Walk @ NZP’ and the fourth edition of the ‘Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk @ NZP’ as part of its efforts to promote citizen participation in biodiversity monitoring, species documentation and wildlife conservation awareness.
The walks, held from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, were conducted under the expert guidance of bird expert Rohit Sharma and butterfly and dragonfly expert Ramver, along with dedicated volunteers. The programme saw participation from bird and butterfly enthusiasts, nature lovers, students, wildlife photographers and citizens interested in biodiversity conservation.
A total of 15 participants joined the walks. The Director of the National Zoological Park, zoo officials and resource experts also attended the programme and interacted with the participants throughout the activity.
During the walks, participants documented 47 bird species, with observations of more than 750 individual birds. They also recorded 8 butterfly species, 10 dragonfly species and 5 damselfly species in the walk area.
The observations provided valuable field-level information on the biodiversity of the National Zoological Park and highlighted the rich diversity of butterflies and odonates found within its premises. The activity also encouraged participants to contribute actively to biodiversity documentation through citizen science.
The experts provided insights into the ecology, behaviour and conservation of birds, butterflies and dragonflies, highlighting their ecological roles as pollinators, natural pest controllers and indicators of ecosystem health. The nature walks also helped participants improve their species-identification skills and develop a greater appreciation of wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Sanjeet Kumar, Director, National Zoological Park, said that such nature walks provide valuable opportunities to strengthen field-identification skills, improve understanding of food webs, contribute to biodiversity documentation and foster a deeper appreciation of wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
The programme concluded with an interactive discussion, participant feedback and a group photograph with the experts and zoo officials.
The NZP limits participation in each Sunday Nature Walk to 20–25 participants to ensure a meaningful learning experience. Prior registration is mandatory and is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is available through the designated Google Form, which remains open from Monday to Friday each week. The registration link is provided on the official website of the National Zoological Park and through the ‘NZP Sathi’ mobile application.
Wildlife Week 2026 to be observed from October 2 to 8
The National Zoological Park will celebrate Wildlife Week 2026 from October 2 to 8, with a series of educational, awareness and participatory activities aimed at promoting wildlife conservation and greater public participation.
The activities planned during the week include Tree Walk, Birds Walk, Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk, Spider and Insect Walk, Reptile, Amphibian and Molluscs Walk, Keeper’s Talk and Enclosure Enrichment, along with a range of competitions and educational activities.
These include Clay Modelling, Wildlife Poster Making, Debate, Essay Writing, Bird Nest Making, Bird Feeder Making, Leaf Craft, Drawing, Treasure Hunt, Rangoli, Quiz, Expert Talk and Online Photography competitions. Online Wildlife Poster Making and Online Quiz activities will also be conducted from October 2 to October 8.
The NZP has invited school students from government and private schools across Delhi-NCR to participate in the offline and online activities and competitions.
No fee will be charged for any Wildlife Week activity, walk or competition. Free entry to the National Zoological Park will be provided to participants of Wildlife Week activities and competitions, along with their school teachers, accompanying staff and parents, from October 2 to 8.
In addition, children up to 12 years of age will be allowed free entry to the National Zoological Park during the Wildlife Week celebrations.
Through these initiatives, the National Zoological Park aims to strengthen public engagement with nature, promote citizen science and biodiversity documentation, and encourage wider participation in wildlife conservation.
