Skimmer Bird Chosen as Mascot for Bird Festival
The Indian Skimmer has been chosen as the mascot for the Bird Festival at Mahakumbh 2025. The Yogi Government is organizing a climate conference and a grand bird festival at the Sangam banks, highlighting conservation efforts.
On February 16, a climate conference will be held at Mahakumbh on the theme "Faith in Kumbh & Climate Change," which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The event will see participation from religious leaders, environmentalists, social organizations, industrial and business sectors, and other dignitaries.
Additionally, the Skimmer Bird has been chosen as the mascot for the Bird Festival, which will take place at the Sangam banks during Mahakumbh 2025. This festival aims to celebrate the union of faith and conservation.
Indian Skimmer: A Vital Indicator of River Health
The Indian Skimmer is a crucial bird species that signifies the health of rivers. It is primarily found along the banks of rivers, lakes, and estuarine wetlands. One of its distinguishing features is its black and white plumage with an orange beak, where the lower mandible is longer than the upper one, helping it to skim the water surface to catch prey efficiently.
Locally known as "Panchira," the Skimmer breeds along the Ganga, Yamuna, and Chambal rivers in Uttar Pradesh, with an estimated 1,000 individuals found in the state.
Yogi Government's Efforts in Organizing Bird Festivals
The Yogi Government has been continuously organizing Bird Festivals at different locations each year:
2017: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Pilibhit
2019: Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Unnao
2020: Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Keetham-Agra
2021: Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Gautam Buddha Nagar
2022: Canceled due to COVID-19
2023: Vijaysagar Bird Sanctuary, Mahoba
2024: Surajpur Wetland
This year, the Bird Festival will take place at Mahakumbh, Prayagraj.
Curtain Raiser Event in Lucknow
Before the main event in Prayagraj, a curtain raiser was held in Lucknow on Saturday. The event included a Walkathon where school children participated, starting from 1090 Chauraha to Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Park.
The event also featured a musical performance by the ITBP band, and the official mascot and teaser were unveiled at the Sarus Auditorium in the Zoo.
Prominent figures present at the event included Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena (Minister of State for Forest & Environment, Independent Charge), Aparna Yadav, and Chief Principal Conservator of Forests Sunil Chaudhary.
The selection of the Indian Skimmer as the mascot is significant as it is naturally found at the Sangam, highlighting the importance of its conservation and protection. All preparations for the Bird Festival have been completed, and the event is expected to be unprecedented in its scale and impact.
Report by Zainul Abdin
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