Chandigarh: Wildlife Week 2026 commenced in Chandigarh on Friday with a walkathon centered on the theme “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife,” highlighting habitat protection and public participation in local conservation efforts.The walkathon stretched from the regulator end of Sukhna Lake to the Chandigarh Bird Park via the Lake Reserve Forest, drawing NSS volunteers, students, nature enthusiasts, NGOs, civil society members, and UT administration officials.Inaugurating the event, chief secretary H Rajesh Prasad released the UT Wildlife Survey Report, a official baseline document detailing local species diversity and distribution to guide future habitat management, monitoring, and conservation planning.“Sustained habitat protection and community participation were essential for maintaining the city’s ecological balance and enabling wildlife to thrive,” said Prasad.During the inaugural ceremony, the department also launched Pahal—a magazine focused on environmental awareness and healthy living—alongside the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee bulletin.Three conservationists—WWF senior coordinator Gitanjali Kanwar, Kulbhushan Kanwar, and Vikram Jit Singh—were felicitated for their contributions to regional wildlife protection and environmental awareness.The week-long awareness drive will feature Butterfly Walks, bird-watching sessions, painting and quiz contests, street plays (nukkad nataks), and awareness camps across Butterfly Park, City Forest, Sukhna Choe Forest, and the Botanical Garden.
