National Zoological Park Organises Sunday Bird, Butterfly and Dragonfly Walks to Promote Science and Biodiversity Conservation

The National Zoological Park (NZP), New Delhi, organised the third ‘Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk @ NZP’ and the 13th ‘Sunday Bird Walk @ NZP’, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote public participation in biodiversity monitoring, documentation of birds, butterflies and dragonflies, and awareness of wildlife conservation.

Event Overview
- Activities:
- 3rd Butterfly & Dragonfly Walk @ NZP
- 13th Sunday Bird Walk @ NZP
- Date/Time: Conducted today, 6:45 AM – 10:30 AM
- Experts: Sh. Sanjay Tiwari & Sh. C.B. Maurya, with volunteers
- Participants: 16 nature enthusiasts, students, photographers, and conservationists

Key Observations
- Birds: 44 species documented, ~700 individuals observed
- Butterflies: 4 species
- Dragonflies/Damselflies: 1 species each
- Highlight: Over 300 Painted Storks nesting at the zoo’s wetland and tree habitats — a strong ecological indicator

Conservation Insights
- Butterflies & dragonflies: vital roles as pollinators, pest controllers, ecosystem health indicators
- Painted Storks: nesting behaviour offers a live case study in breeding ecology
- Walks help participants improve species identification, biodiversity documentation, and appreciation of conservation

Next Events
- 3rd Sunday Insect & Spider Walk
- 14th Sunday Bird Walk
- Date: Sunday, 20 September 2026
- Participation: Limited to 20–25 people, with mandatory pre-registration via Google Form (available on NZP’s website and “NZP Sathi” app).

These walks are a great example of citizen science in action, blending education, conservation, and community engagement.