Government School Students Illuminate International Vulture Awareness Day with Art
In a bid to foster awareness about vulture conservation, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department marked International Vulture Awareness Day at Theppakadu Elephant Camp on Saturday. This year’s campaign focused on educating pharmacists, school students, and cattle owners in the Nilgiris region about the critical importance of vulture preservation.
Renowned researcher H. Byju, an expert in vulture habitats and ecology, addressed the event, emphasizing the devastating impact of Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) on India’s vulture populations. The Nilgiris serves as a sanctuary to critically endangered vulture species including the white-rumped vulture, long-billed vulture, and Asian king vulture. Though the Egyptian vulture also traverses the region, recent nesting records are absent.
Contributing to the event’s success were students from Masinagudi Government Higher Secondary School. They participated in a painting competition on Friday, creating vulture images using organic dyes derived from vegetables and spices like beetroot, cabbage, coffee powder, and turmeric. Chief among the organisers were researchers such as S. Manigandan, funded by the Rufford Foundation, who acknowledged the students’ efforts.
The highlight of the celebration was the felicitating of these young artists with certificates and prizes presented by P. Arunkumar, Deputy Director of MTR (Buffer Zone). The awards were generously sponsored by benefactors C. Shreekanth from Chennai and Karthik from Gobichettipalayam, both of whom are keen on spreading the conservation message to the younger generation.
Published – September 08, 2024, 06:06 PM IST
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/international-vulture-awareness-day-celebrated-in-mudumalai/article68618145.ece
Category : Coimbatore
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