Wildlife Conservation / World Elephant Day Celebrated At Nandankanan Zoo With Conservation Awareness

Bhubaneswar, Aug 12: Nandankanan Zoological Park marked World Elephant Day 2026 with a series of engaging activities aimed at promoting elephant conservation, welfare, and public awareness, officials said on Wednesday.

The programme was attended by local leaders including Sri Tapan Chakravarty, Sarpanch of Daruthenga, Khulana Majhi, Sarpanch of Raghunathpur, and Pradeep Mirase, Deputy Director of Nandankanan Zoological Park.

The celebrations began with a special feeding enrichment activity for elephants Basanti, Hira, Asha, and Lisha, who were treated to nutritious fruit platters designed to encourage natural feeding behaviour. Dedicated mahouts were felicitated for their invaluable role in elephant care and management.

Visitors and school students participated in a Keepers’ Talk, on-the-spot quiz, and signature campaign, all designed to highlight elephant behaviour, welfare, and conservation.

The Zoo Library & Digital Hub hosted storytelling sessions, origami workshops, cultural acts where children portrayed Asian and African elephants, and a movie screening on elephant conservation. Hand painting activities and a special “Elephant Frame” photo session added a fun and memorable touch to the day.
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Students were also given a guided tour of the elephant enclosure from the viewers’ side, offering them insights into elephant biology, care, and management in ex-situ conservation.

Through these initiatives, Nandankanan reaffirmed its commitment to raising awareness about elephant welfare and inspiring communities to protect elephants and their habitats. The event underscored the importance of conservation education in safeguarding one of the most iconic species of India’s wildlife heritage.