National Times Bureau, July 29, 2025: Today, M. C. Zoological Park Chhatbir celebrated Global Tiger Day 2025. Field director Mr. Neeraj Kumar said that the theme of Global Tiger Day was “Harmonious Coexistence between Humans and Tigers.” Today, Chhatbir zoo organized programs to educate people about tiger conservation and the serious problems facing this magnificent cat is the day’s primary goal. A spacial awareness campaign and oath ceremony was conducted at the zoo. The Chhatbir zoo also explored its outreach activities and organized an online session in collaboration with Department of Zoology Khalsa College for women civil lines Ludhiana on the same theme. The keynote speaker for the session was Dr. Aarti Chavada, an eminent Zoobiologist, who sensitized students on the critical role tigers play in maintaining ecological balance and the need to conserve their natural habitats.
Dr. Chavada emphasized that tigers are apex predators and their presence is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. She also spoke about the challenges faced by tiger populations such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict, urging the youth to become conscious contributors to conservation efforts.
To encourage student participation and creativity, an Intra-Class Infographic Making Competition was also held on the same day. The students showcased powerful visual messages on tiger conservation through self-designed infographics. First Prize was bagged by Gunpreet Kaur, B.Sc. Medical 3 and Second Prize went to Tania Verma, .Sc. Medical 3
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Dr. Kamaljit Grewal appreciated the efforts of the Zoology Department in raising environmental awareness through such engaging activities. She mentioned that Educating young minds about wildlife conservation is the need of the hour and events like these not only spark curiosity but also cultivate responsibility towards our natural heritage.”
Head of the Department, Dr. Monita Dhiman, expressed her gratitude to the team of M.C. Zoological Park for their support and to Dr. Aarti Chavada for her informative session. She further added that the department remains committed to promoting wildlife awareness and environmental education.
Field director Neeraj Kumar said that International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, was founded in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. This summit brought together governments from tiger-range countries, conservation organisations, and experts to discuss measures to halt the alarming decline in tiger numbers The participating nations committed to doubling the tiger population by 2022, a goal known as TX2. Although significant progress has been made, continued efforts are essential to maintain and build upon these achievements.
