Wildlife Wing announces week-long celebrations and invites public participation in painting, photography and documentary competitions
TNR News Network
Shimla
The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department will celebrate the 75th Wildlife Week from October 2 to October 8, 2026, with a series of wildlife conservation and awareness programmes across the State.
The celebrations will be organised under this year’s theme:
“Protecting Wildlife Habitats to Conserve Health & Livelihoods”
The observance of Wildlife Week provides an important opportunity to renew public commitment towards wildlife protection and conservation and to encourage greater participation in conservation efforts.
Week-Long Activities
A variety of activities have been planned across Himachal Pradesh during the Wildlife Week celebrations, including:
- Opening ceremony and cleanliness drives
- Bird watching and floral study walks
- Zoo visits
- Release of Cheer Pheasants
- Mini Marathon
- Cycle rallies
- Short treks in Protected Areas and selected forest areas
- Wildlife talks and storytelling sessions by experts
- Guided bird watching activities
- Quiz competitions
- Seminars and webinars on wildlife conservation
The celebrations will conclude on *October 8, 2026, with a *State-level closing ceremony in Shimla. The programme will feature an exhibition of wildlife-related publications, photographs and conservation initiatives, along with selected documentary screenings, cultural presentations, audience engagement activities, release of publications and souvenirs, and prize distribution.
Competition Highlights
As part of the 75th Wildlife Week celebrations, the department has announced competitions for artists, photographers and filmmakers.
🎨 Open Wildlife Painting Competition
- Last date for email submission: September 20, 2026
- Last date for physical submission: September 25, 2026
- Email: WLWEEKOPENPAINTING@GMAIL.COM
- Prizes: ₹15,000, ₹12,000 and ₹9,000 for the first three positions
- Winners will also receive certificates and souvenirs.
📸 Wildlife Photography Competition
- Open and Departmental categories
- Last date for submission: September 20, 2026
- Email: WLWEEKPHOTO@GMAIL.COM
- Prizes in each category: ₹9,000, ₹6,000 and ₹4,000 for the first three positions
- Winners will also receive certificates and souvenirs.
🎥 Wildlife Video Documentary Competition
- Open and Departmental categories
- Last date for submission: September 20, 2026
- Email: WLWEEKPHOTO@GMAIL.COM
- Best entry prize: ₹20,000, along with a certificate and souvenir.
You can add Ms. Preeti Bhandari’s statement after Mr. Alok Prem Nagar’s statement in the A Call for Public Participation section as follows:
A Call for Public Participation
Speaking about the upcoming *75th Wildlife Week celebrations, *Mr. Alok Prem Nagar, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Himachal Pradesh, said that the main objective of these celebrations is to create greater awareness among the general public about wildlife, its natural habitats and the importance of their conservation.
He said that the conservation of Himachal Pradesh’s rich biodiversity and wildlife is not the responsibility of the Forest Department alone, but a shared responsibility of every member of society. Wildlife Week provides an important opportunity for people to connect with nature, understand the State’s rich biodiversity and contribute towards conservation efforts.
Ms. Preeti Bhandari, Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Shimla (South), said that the Wildlife Week celebrations offer a valuable opportunity for people from all sections of society to participate, learn and develop a deeper understanding of wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
She encouraged students, photographers, artists, wildlife enthusiasts, local communities and the general public to actively participate in the various activities and competitions being organised during the week. She said that such events not only provide an opportunity to showcase talent and creativity but also help people learn more about Himachal Pradesh’s rich wildlife and the importance of protecting its natural habitats.
The department has appealed to schools, colleges, NGOs, local communities, wildlife enthusiasts and the general public to actively participate in the celebrations and help spread the message of wildlife conservation across Himachal Pradesh.
Let us join hands to conserve the rich biodiversity and wildlife of Himachal Pradesh.
Interested participants are encouraged to take part in the competitions and join the celebrations of the 75th Wildlife Week from October 2 to 8, 2026.
