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 ongoing Citizen Science Initiative aimed at encouraging public participation in biodiversity documentation, monitoring, and conservation awareness. The Tree Walk was conducted from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM under the guidance of Dr. C. R. Magesh (Scientist-D), while the Bird Walk was led by ornithology expert Dr. Paritosh Ahmed. The event attracted 25 participants including nature enthusiasts, students, wildlife photographers, biodiversity researchers, NZP interns and volunteers, and conservation-interested citizens, with attendance from the Director of National Zoological Park, zoo officials, and resource experts.
During the walks, 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 at the zoo during the second week of August and began nesting on trees around the pond, serving as encouraging indicators of the ecological value of the zoo's wetland and tree habitats. Dr. Paritosh shared information about a male Painted Stork named 'Ringo' that has been observed making its nest in the same area for four consecutive years, with ongoing studies by zoo interns.
The Tree Walk provided practical guidance on tree identification using leaf morphology, bark characteristics, flowers, fruits, and canopy structure, while educating participants about ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, air purification, temperature regulation, soil conservation, and habitat creation. The program encouraged systematic documentation of observations and appreciation of trees' role in urban ecosystems. Participation is limited to 20-25 participants per walk with mandatory prior registration 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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