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SEEK team along with Ms Bano Haralu and village functionaries in Pangti village.[/caption]
Dimapur, July 19 (EMN): In a bid to raise awareness on the threatened species, a four member team from Environment Conservation Group (ECG) are on a mission to spread awareness and save the threatened species through their project ‘SEEK’- an acronym for Save Endangered Endemic and Key species.
The team comprising of Abishek, Srinivas, Sisir led by Mohammed Saleem was in Pangti village under Wokha district to meet the team behind the conservation of Amur falcons. The team met Ms Bano Haralu and her team from the Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust (NWBCT) and had a fruitful discussion on the subject. During the discussion, both team felt that the concept of ‘SEEK’ can be replicated in other parts of the world to protect wildlife and their natural habitats. This is their second all India awareness expedition. Last year, five members from ECG travelled about 20,000 kms in about forty days to study the impact of roads on wildlife and spread awareness under the project ‘PATH’ (Provide Animals safe Transit on Highways).
The team is travelling by Mahindra Scorpio, sponsored by Mahindra and Mahindra. They visited various wildlife sanctuaries and educational institutions. SEEK is also sponsored by WULF Pro and WWF India and supported by SACON, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and CASFOS Central Academy for State Forest Officer, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
SEEK will highlight the plight of the lesser known endangered, endemic and key species such as the Great Indian Bustard, whose population is less than 200 in the wild. The theme to reach out to the youth across the country was in line with the theme of this year’s World Wildlife Day – ‘Listen to the young voices.’
SEEK intends to inspire young people into wildlife conservation, empowering and encouraging them to actively engage and participate in saving precious wildlife.
The expedition was flagged off from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on July 1 and travelled about 7000 kms through various wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The team will meet college and school students and share their thoughts on wildlife conservation and stress on the need for the younger generation to be engaged in wildlife conservation. The objective is to visit all 29 states of India and also the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar to document the endangered species and learn about the issues and threats that face wildlife.
One of SEEK’s main purposes is to highlight those species that are facing a high risk of extinction.