The Forest Department, Coimbatore, witnessed an overwhelming response to various contests organised on the occasion of the Wildlife Week Celebrations.
According to District Forest Officer I. Anwardeen, the Forest Department on September 26 conducted drawing, elocution and quiz contests which had the participation of nearly 450 students and of them 55 students walked away with prizes in each category.
The first prize winners in each category were nominated for the State-level final rounds. The celebrations included a rally from VKK Menon Road to Mani Higher Secondary School.
The valediction held recently was attended by Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Forest Minister N. Selvaraj, Collector P. Umanath, Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force A.S. Balanathan, Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R. Sundarrajan, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of Tamil Nadu Forest Academy K.P.M. Perumal, Director of IFGTB K. Krishnakumar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Information Technology) Sanjay K. Srivastava, Field Director of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Rajiv Srivastava, Field Director of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve H. Basuvaraju took part.
The officials presented the Chief Ministers' medal to three Assistant Conservator of Forests, three Rangers, two Foresters and five Forest Guards.
A letter of appreciation was presented to Krishnakumar of ACME Round Table for his contribution to tiger conservation in Sathyamangalam forest area.
