B.S. Sherigar, former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University, said on Sunday that there is a need to create awareness among the people about wildlife and its protection.
He was speaking after inaugurating a weeklong photography exhibition on wildlife, organised by the Karnataka Nature Photography Association to mark the Wildlife Week, here.
Prof. Sherigar said that the United Nations had declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity and 2011 as the International Year of Forests. This was indicative of the increasing concern about biodiversity and forests all over the world, he said. All species have the same rights as human beings have to live on earth. The sooner the people realised this fact the better.
Nearly two-thirds of species live in forests. However, many species were getting extinct because of massive deforestation, he said. Nature clubs and eco clubs should be formed in schools so that children could be made to know the importance of environment and wildlife. Wildlife photography was not an easy task. Wildlife photography involved adventure, risk, perseverance, patience and huge costs, Prof. Sherigar said.
Ornithologist and wildlife photographer H.S. Malli was felicitated on the occasion.
Photographs taken by Shashidhar Hiremath (Haveri), Hemachandra Jain (Davanagere), K.N. Nalagurmath (Bellary), Ignatius Sunil (Srirangapatna), B. Udaykumar Shetty, B. Vinaykumar Shetty, Santosh Kundeshwar and K. Vishwanath (Kundapur) were on display at the exhibition.
