ZIRO, 4 Oct: The inaugural Ziro Bird and Butterfly Festival began at Saint Claret College, Ziro in Lower Subansiri district on Sunday. It also marked the beginning of the 72nd Wildlife Week celebrations in the region.

After the opening session, the festival will move to Pange in the Tale Wildlife Sanctuary for three days of field explorations, bird and butterfly monitoring, and conservation efforts.

During the inaugural ceremony, Hapoli Forest Division DFO Tilling Taker and ADCF Oyang Dusu spoke about the importance of Wildlife Week and the ecological role of the region's native bird and butterflies.

Participants also engaged in sessions on environmental policy with CCF Millo Tasser, eco-tourism with Tage Kano, bird conservation with Koj Mama, butterfly diversity with Punyo Chada, and reptile awareness with RFO Kime Rambia.

Besides environmental discussions, the opening day also featured celebrations of local culture and youth engagement.

Programme highlights included nature exhibitions, martial arts and boxing demonstrations by Abo Warriors MMA Ziro and the Lower Subansiri Amateur Boxing Association, as well as performances by the Danyi Rilla Group and Tilling Tubin.

Nature enthusiasts, researchers, local leaders, and students are attending the festival to celebrate and protect the unique ecosystems of the Ziro valley.

The festival is an initiative of DFO Taker and is being organized in collaboration with local community stakeholders with support of Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner Oli Perme. Under Taker's leadership, the Hapoli Forest Division has adopted a community-first approach to safeguarding local biodiversity. (DIPRO)