Arunachal Pradesh to Observe 64th Wildlife Week in October

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: Along with the rest of the country, Arunachal Pradesh will observe the 64th wildlife week with the theme – ‘Big cats - Predators under Threat’ – from October 2 to 8 next.

The aim of the celebration is to create mass awareness towards the preservation of flora and fauna in general and the big cats in particular, an official communiqué informed here on Friday.

Arunachal Pradesh located in the Eastern Himalayan Range of the country with over 81 percent of its geographical area under forest and tree cover and rich biodiversity, is one of the 12 mega biodiversity hotspots of the world.

Besides over six hundred species of birds and many other unique wildlife species, the state has four out of five big cats that are included in the theme of this wildlife week, the communiqué said.

Preservation and conservation of the big cats species is gaining great importance in view of endangered and threat to their survival and the state government through the environment and forest department has been taking steps in this regard with the cooperation and support of the people, the communiqué added.

Since forest plays a significant role in the ecology, economy and socio-cultural life of the tribes of the state, preservation and conservation of the unique flora and fauna is essential to pass on the legacy to the future generations, the communiqué said.

As part of the celebration, the department has decided to exempt entry fee for the visitors on the starting and concluding days of the week, the communiqué added.