Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) today launched the ‘GajUtsav’ campaign in Bhubaneswar with an aim to conserve elephants.
The event was launched in the presence of Forest and Environment Minister Pradip Kumar Amat, PCCF (wildlife) Sushil Kumar Popli, PCCF DebiduttBiswal, Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Forest & Environment and Climate Change.
The launching ceremony was marked by the unveiling of five elephant art pieces handcrafted by local artisans, and curated by eminent artist and writer Ina Puri. It was followed by a symbolic baton handover.
The unique Public-Private Partnership will take forward the vision of bringing the Gajah (elephant) to the Prajah (public) through the elephant districts of the state.
The event showcased a series of activities including cultural performances, cycle rally, and informative sessions, all designed to highlight the importance of protecting the giant animal and their habitats.
It concluded with a Media Panel Discussion on “Sensitive and Responsible Wildlife Journalism.”
GajUtsav is a visionary campaign by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), supported by the Whitley Fund for Nature (UK) and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, with a mission to raise awareness about safeguarding the future of India’s National Heritage Animal.
Since its inception in 2018, this campaign has been creating a significant impact across elephant range states in India.
Odisha is home to over 1900 elephants spanning three elephant reserves. While these majestic animals roam freely across the country’s vast landscapes, they face challenges in their right to move across their natural habitats. GajUtsav seeks to encourage collective action among policymakers, media, infrastructure agencies, legal professionals, and wildlife experts, fostering insightful discussions on challenges, conservation strategies, and sustainable development models for elephant protection.
This year’s celebration in Odisha marks another milestone in the ongoing efforts to safeguard these animals and their habitats. Over the last five years, the campaign has successfully engaged with 75,000 people across the country.
