Latest news with #DelhiForestandWildlifeDepartment
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
How a ‘divine visitor' feasted his way through Delhi Secretariat, led by a Cabinet minister
It is not every day that a monkey strolls through the corridors of a government office in Lutyens' Delhi and leaves after finishing a feast of a bowl of pomegranates, a banana, and a mango – all carefully fed by a Cabinet minister. On Thursday, however, this is exactly what unfolded at the Delhi Secretariat. As seen in a video shared by Cabinet Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on X, a rhesus macaque wandered into his ministry. Hailing it as a moment of divine intervention, Singh wrote: 'Jai Bajrang Bali. Today, the Lord himself came to my ministry in the form of a monkey, due to which energy and positivity spread in the entire office.' The video, which gained significant traction with around 7.7 lakh views, shows the monkey seated calmly on the floor of a corridor, devouring a mango as curious staff members keep their distance and watch silently. ।।जय बजरंग बली ।। आज मेरे मंत्रालय में वानर रूप में स्वयं प्रभु पधारे। जिससे पूरे कार्यालय में ऊर्जा और सकारात्मकता का संचार हुआ। — Parvesh Sahib Singh (@p_sahibsingh) July 17, 2025 The minister stands close by, having already offered a banana and ready with more fruits in his hand, carefully coaxing the guest. The monkey, though visibly enjoying the attention and the snack, keeps a sharp eye on everyone. After all, it is not every day that he is the centre of attention in a major government office. And in a remarkably orderly fashion — no panic, no calls to animal control — the minister gently led the monkey through the hallway and into a balcony just outside his office. Here, Singh again feeds the monkey, this time with a bowl of pomegranates. With that, Delhi's most unusual visit of the day ended without fuss, Singh's joy reflecting in the video's text, 'It was a visit from God himself (swayam prabhu padhare).' According to officials, no intervention was sought from the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department, which typically handles monkey-related conflicts in the Capital. The department operates helpline numbers for such incidents, but in this case, the entire encounter was handled in-house with fruits and a quiet sense of reverence. While many online users were divided in their reactions to the moment, a few saw it as a sign of divine blessing. The incident also reopened a familiar conversation in the city: about Delhi's enduring troubles with monkeys. Rhesus macaques do not enjoy protection under the Wildlife Protection Act. As a result, in 2024, the Delhi High Court directed civic agencies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), to come up with a plan to deal with the 'monkey menace'.
Deccan Herald
06-07-2025
- Science
- Deccan Herald
Over 160 bird species, 21 sightings, documented in bird census
The greater flamingo with its long, coat hanger neck and pink-white plumage, and the Indian pitta, known for its distinctive calls, were among the 21 first-time sightings recorded across the national capital this summer. More than 160 bird species including endangered and migratory species have been recorded across Delhi as part of the Delhi Bird Atlas. The summer phase of the atlas -- a pioneering citizen science initiative supported by Wildlife SOS and the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department -- reported 21 first-time sightings and saw over 600 checklists uploaded to the eBird platform, surpassing the winter documentation efforts, according to a statement. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis, Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata) and Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) are among the first-time sightings. The project, which divides Delhi into 145 observation zones, is aimed at building a long-term understanding of avian distribution patterns across seasons, officials said. Alongside this documentation drive, Wildlife SOS has intensified its rescue efforts during the scorching summer, saving nearly 500 birds till May 2025. These included raptors and migratory species impacted by extreme heat, electrocution, collisions, and habitat stress. Shyam Sunder Kandpal, Chief Wildlife Warden, said the Delhi Bird Atlas is not just a scientific initiative but a "community-powered effort" to reconnect people with nature and create a data-backed conservation strategy for the capital. The initiative also underscores the growing role of citizens in spotting and reporting injured or distressed birds, often triggering rescue operations. "With Delhi reeling under erratic climate patterns and rising pollution, initiatives like the Bird Atlas become all the more urgent," said Wasim Akram, Director of Special Projects at Wildlife SOS.
NDTV
05-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Delhi Bird Census: Over 160 Bird Species, 21 First Time Sightings Documented
New Delhi: More than 160 bird species including endangered and migratory ones like the greater flamingo and Indian pitta have been recorded across the national capital as part of the Delhi Bird Atlas. The summer phase of the atlas -- a pioneering citizen science initiative supported by Wildlife SOS and the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department -- reported 21 first-time sightings and saw over 600 checklists uploaded to the eBird platform, surpassing the winter documentation efforts, according to a statement. The project, which divides Delhi into 145 observation zones, is aimed at building a long-term understanding of avian distribution patterns across seasons, officials said. Alongside this documentation drive, Wildlife SOS has intensified its rescue efforts during the scorching summer, saving nearly 500 birds till May 2025. These included raptors and migratory species impacted by extreme heat, electrocution, collisions, and habitat stress. Shyam Sunder Kandpal, Chief Wildlife Warden, said the Delhi Bird Atlas is not just a scientific initiative but a "community-powered effort" to reconnect people with nature and create a data-backed conservation strategy for the capital. The initiative also underscores the growing role of citizens in spotting and reporting injured or distressed birds, often triggering rescue operations. "With Delhi reeling under erratic climate patterns and rising pollution, initiatives like the Bird Atlas become all the more urgent," said Wasim Akram, Director of Special Projects at Wildlife SOS.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
12k flowering saplings to be planted at central Ridge
New Delhi: Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department plans to beautify the forest stretch along Sardar Patel Marg by planting 12,000 flowering trees and shrubs. Around the Central Ridge near the Sardar Patel Marg boundary, 1,200 each of Amaltas, Queen's Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa), and Rosy Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia rosea) will be planted, along with approximately 8,400 bougainvillea shrubs. Saplings, 10–12 feet tall, will be planted during the upcoming monsoon, with flowers expected from next year. A senior forest official said, "We aim to enhance the forest area along Sardar Patel Marg with native flowering species to improve its visual appeal. A tender has been floated, and plantation will begin in the monsoon." Earlier attempts to grow Chinar and Cherry blossom trees here failed. These were planted near SP Marg ahead of the G20 summit, anticipating the route would be used by delegates and VIPs, but both species did not survive. Delhi's ridges include northern, central, south-central, and southern ridge, spanning a total of around 7,777 hectares. The southern ridge is the largest at 6,200 hectares, followed by central ridge (864 ha), south-central ridge (626 ha), and northern ridge (87 ha). TNN
