Bhubaneswar: World Elephant Day was observed at Nandankanan Zoological Park here on Wednesday with a series of awareness programmes, including elephant enrichment activities, a quiz, storytelling and felicitation of mahouts, aimed at promoting elephant conservation.
The programme began at around 9.30 am with the four elephants at the zoo being bathed and decorated. Visitors and guests offered the jumbos fruits and other food items as enrichment, including coconut, apples, bananas, watermelon, maize and sugarcane.
Nandankanan is currently home to four female elephants—two-year-old Lisa, three-year-old Asha, 28-year-old Hira and 62-year-old Basanti.
As part of the observance, mahouts were felicitated for their contribution to the care and management of the elephants. A keepers’ talk was also organised, providing visitors and students an opportunity to learn more about elephant care, behaviour and conservation.
A quiz competition was held for students from different schools and visitors. Participants who answered the questions correctly were felicitated, while good-performing mahouts were also honoured during the programme.
A number of other activities were organised to mark the day, including a signature campaign, storytelling and origami sessions. A movie screening was also held at the zoo library and digital hub, besides a photo session with an elephant-themed frame.
The programmes were aimed at engaging visitors, students and wildlife enthusiasts and spreading awareness about the importance of protecting elephants and their habitats.
World Elephant Day is observed annually to raise awareness about elephant conservation and the challenges faced by the species. Nandankanan authorities have been organising various awareness activities involving visitors and wildlife enthusiasts as part of the observance.
