The grand finale of the 71st Wildlife Week Celebration 2025 was held at the City Convention Centre in Imphal, where Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla released a variety of wild animals, including the Burmese Python, Bengal Slow Loris, Myanmar Box Turtle, and Leopard Cats, back into their natural habitats.
Organised by the Forest Department under the theme ‘Human–Wildlife Co-existence’, the event also marked the launch of the Manipur Bear Conservation Project in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India and the Forest Resources Assessment & Monitoring System (FRAMS), a web application developed with NESAC (ISRO). The Governor also released a book titled Flight, Fur & Fangs – Encounters with the Wilderness of Manipur Forests and distributed awards to NGOs, CSOs, police, and other stakeholders for their contributions to wildlife conservation. Incentive prizes for a painting competition were also handed out.
Speaking at the event, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla underlined the importance of safeguarding Manipur’s rich biodiversity and noted that the recent return of wild elephants to Kamjong District is “a message of hope from nature itself.” He highlighted examples of successful community-driven conservation initiatives, including the protection of the Sangai deer and the Amur Falcon in Tamenglong, emphasizing that citizen engagement is key to lasting environmental protection. The Governor also visited the Wildlife Photography Exhibition held at the venue, calling for continued commitment to preserve the state’s natural heritage.
