Wildlife Week: From Classrooms to Leh market, Students spread Wildlife conservation message

469 Bird Species, Wildlife stories highlight conservation outreach

LEH: Hundreds of students across Ladakh took part in quizzes, poster-making, environmental pledges, wildlife storytelling and bird photography activities as the second day of Wildlife Week 2026 brought conservation awareness into schools and public spaces across the Union Territory.

Observed under the theme “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife”, the School Activities Day was organised by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, UT Ladakh, with students from schools located within Ladakh’s Protected Areas participating in a range of educational and awareness activities.

The programme placed students at the centre of the celebrations, with the activities aimed at building greater awareness of Ladakh’s wildlife, habitats and conservation needs and encouraging young people to take an active role in protecting the region’s fragile ecosystems.

During the first half of the day, poster-making and quiz competitions were held at government schools in Partapur, Chushul and Thiksay.

At Thiksay, students from five participating schools took part in the competitions. Government Higher Secondary School, Chuchot Shamma secured first position, followed by Government Higher Secondary School, Shey, and Government Higher Secondary School, Thiksay.

At Chushul, Nalanda House of Government Higher Secondary School secured first position in the quiz competition, followed by Vikramshila House and Taxila House.

Students and teachers from Government Higher Secondary School, Partapur; Government High School, Hunder; Government Middle School (Boys), Diskit; and Government Middle School (Girls), Diskit also participated in the activities at Partapur.

The conservation outreach extended to school assemblies, where students of Durk Padma Karpo School Leh, Delhi Public School Leh, Government Higher Secondary School Chushul, Government Higher Secondary School Thiksay and Government Higher Secondary School Partapur took an Environment Pledge.

The activities later moved beyond school campuses, with Leh Market hosting an evening programme focused on wildlife awareness, traditional storytelling and photography. The session was conducted by Dr Phuntsog Dolma, Wildlife Consultant, Wildlife Division Leh.

A wildlife folklore storytelling session by Padma Shri Murup Namgail drew attention to the traditional cultural relationship between Ladakh’s communities and its wildlife through stories and songs.

The evening also featured a wildlife and bird photography exhibition organised by the Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh in collaboration with the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment.

Club founder Vishudha spoke about the organisation’s work documenting Ladakh’s bird diversity. The club has so far identified 469 bird species in Ladakh, according to the information shared during the programme.

The exhibition and storytelling session drew local residents, Ladakhi visitors and domestic and international tourists, indicating wider public interest in the region’s wildlife and natural heritage.

Addressing the gathering, Rajesh S, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, UT Ladakh, highlighted Ladakh’s biodiversity and stressed the collective responsibility of protecting its wildlife, habitats and ecological systems. The programme concluded with a poem on the Black-necked Crane, presented by Rohini Dixit, a young professional from the Department’s wildlife team.