Coimbatore : The four-member-team from Coimbatore that is to create awareness about and also involve in the conservation of endangered birds all over India started their 22,000 km road trip from the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy (TNFA) campus in the city today.
Coimbatore : The four-member-team from Coimbatore that is to create awareness about and also involve in the conservation of endangered birds all over India started their 22,000 km road trip from the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy (TNFA) campus in the city today.
The expedition titled ‘Seek-2019’ the Great Indian Bird Expedition, the third edition of the Seek series by the Environment Conservation Group (ECG), was flagged off by Yogesh Dwivedi, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of TNFA around 11.am.
The team comprising of R. Mohammed Saleem President of ECG, P.A. Azeez, Former Director of Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Ravi Rishi, physician and wildlife enthusiast and Thillai Makadhan, Wildlife Photographer would travel the length and breadth of the country covering 22,000 kms in 90 days, where they are document the 100 most threatened birds of India.
“We are also to analyse the threats faced by the birds in their habitats and the increasing anthropogenic pressure if any,” said Saleem. The team would end their expedition in March and would be travelling to some remote pockets of the country in search of endangered birds.
Talking about the expedition, Ravi Rishi said that the trip would help the team understand the problems faced by the birds in depth so that they could also offer solutions for the conservation of the birds.
Expressing his excitement to be a part of an elite group in conservation, Thillai Makadhan added that it would be a good learning experience. “We would be meeting a lot of people for during the trip and spreading awareness, which would also enrich my knowledge,” he opined.
During the expedition, the team would be meeting students, researchers, law makers and general public and create awareness about the importance of the birds.