The National Zoological Park in New Delhi organized its 2nd 'Tree Walk @ NZP' and 11th Sunday Bird Walk on 23rd August 2026 as part of its Citizen Science Initiative aimed at encouraging public participation in biodiversity documentation, monitoring, and conservation awareness. The event attracted 25 participants including nature enthusiasts, students, wildlife photographers, biodiversity researchers, NZP interns and volunteers, and general citizens interested in nature conservation.
During the walks conducted from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, participants documented 42 bird species with observations of more than 300 individual birds, along with 40 tree species in the walk area. A significant observation was the presence of more than 150 Painted Storks that arrived during the second week of August and have begun nesting on trees in and around the pond, serving as encouraging indicators of the ecological value of the Zoo's wetland and tree habitats.
The Bird Walk was conducted under ornithology expert Dr. Paritosh Ahmed, who shared an account of a male Painted Stork named 'Ringo' that has been observed making its nest in the same area for the past four years. The Tree Walk was guided by Dr. C. R. Magesh (Scientist-D), who provided practical guidance on tree identification using features such as leaf morphology, bark characteristics, flowers, fruits, and canopy structure, while also explaining ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, air purification, temperature regulation, soil conservation, and habitat creation.
Participation in these Sunday Nature Walks is limited to 20-25 participants to ensure quality learning experience, with prior mandatory registration accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through a Google Form available Monday to Friday each week on the zoo's official website and 'NZP Sathi' mobile application. The next nature walks focusing on reptiles, amphibians, molluscs, and birds are scheduled for 30th August 2026.
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