National Zoological Park Hosts Bird, Butterfly and Dragonfly Walks to Promote Biodiversity Awareness
New Delhi, September 6, 2026: The National Zoological Park (NZP), New Delhi, continued its citizen-focused biodiversity initiatives by organising its 13th Sunday Bird Walk along with the third Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk @ NZP on Sunday, bringing together nature enthusiasts, students, wildlife photographers and citizens interested in understanding India’s rich biodiversity.
The morning programme, held from 6:45 AM to 10:30 AM, was conducted under the guidance of bird expert Sanjay Tiwari and butterfly and dragonfly expert C.B. Maurya, supported by volunteers. The initiative aims to encourage citizens to participate in the observation, identification and documentation of local wildlife while developing greater awareness about conservation.
Around 16 participants joined the activity, which was also attended by the Director of the National Zoological Park, zoo officials and resource experts. Participants were guided through the zoo’s habitats while learning about species identification, ecological relationships and the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems.
44 Bird Species Recorded
The bird walk produced particularly noteworthy observations. Participants recorded 44 bird species, with more than 700 individual birds observed during the session. The insect-focused walk recorded four butterfly species, one dragonfly species and one damselfly species.
Officials attributed the comparatively smaller number of butterflies and dragonflies to intermittent rainfall during the period.
One of the most striking observations was the presence of more than 300 Painted Storks. The birds reportedly arrived at the National Zoological Park during the second week of August and have since started nesting on trees around the pond.
Their arrival and nesting activity offer an encouraging indication of the ecological significance of the Zoo’s wetland and tree habitats. The breeding activity also provides visitors, interns, volunteers and citizen scientists with an opportunity to observe bird behaviour and gain practical insight into avian breeding ecology.
Learning Beyond Species Identification
During the programme, C.B. Maurya discussed the ecological roles played by birds, butterflies and dragonflies, including their importance as pollinators, natural controllers of insect populations and indicators of ecosystem health.
The nature walks gave participants an opportunity to strengthen their field-identification abilities while developing a closer understanding of biodiversity and the interconnectedness of different species within an ecosystem.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Sanjeet Kumar, Director of the National Zoological Park, emphasised the educational value of such field-based programmes. He noted that nature walks can help participants improve species-identification skills, understand food webs, contribute to biodiversity documentation and develop a stronger appreciation for wildlife conservation.
The session concluded with an interactive exchange between participants and experts, followed by feedback from attendees and a group photograph involving the resource persons and zoo officials.
Limited Participation for Better Learning
The National Zoological Park limits participation in each Sunday Nature Walk to approximately 20–25 people so that participants can receive meaningful guidance and a focused learning experience.
Advance registration is compulsory and places are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration form remains available from Monday to Friday through the official National Zoological Park website and the “NZP Sathi” mobile application.
Next Nature Walk Scheduled for September 20
The Zoo has announced that its next programmes will include the 3rd Sunday Insect and Spider Walk and the 14th Sunday Bird Walk.
Both walks are scheduled for Sunday, September 20, 2026, offering another opportunity for citizens and nature enthusiasts to explore and document the biodiversity of the National Zoological Park.
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
