Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: Department of Wildlife Protection today organized a trekking expedition to Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary from Mansar to Bari Kap covering a distance of 7.5 Kms.
The trek was flagged off by Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K Suresh Kumar Gupta.
About 100 participants including students, scholars, academicians, nature enthusiasts, local youth and PRI members representing various districts participated in the event.
The participants were grouped into six groups, each group comprising 15- 20 participants. About a 20 minute gap was kept between a group and the following group. The participants followed strict COVID protocol, maintaining social distance and using masks all through the trek, which started at 10.00 AM and was completed in about three hours by each group.
During the trek participants enjoyed the full view of Mansar lake and wildlife sanctuary from the ridge top. Participants also enjoyed the streams, bowlies, biodiversity, ascent and descent of the trek. At the culmination point of trek, locals had set up refreshment stalls of local cuisine for the participants on payment basis.
While inaugurating the event, the Chief Wildlife Warden highlighted the importance of the trekking and such programmes being organized by the Department. He appealed to the participants to carry the message of protection and conservation of nature and wildlife for awareness of the society.
Pr. CCF(redt) and Tree Talk Crusader O. P Sharma, apprised the participants about biodiversity along the trek. Prof. Namrata Sharma and Prof. Yash Paul from University of Jammu also addressed the participants and appreciated the initiative taken by the Department of Wildlife protection.
The programme was organized by Wildlife Warden, Kathua Vijay Kumar under the guidance of Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu, Dr. Kumar M.K.