'Awareness campaigns must to save flora-fauna'

Jaipur, July 6: Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today said only increased awareness among wildlife lovers and common people can save the endangered flora and fauna and the rapidly depleting forest cover.

While releasing the book 'Birds of Bharatpur' of wildlife expert K Rajpal Singh at his residence, the Vice-President said the endangered Great Indian Bustard bird could be saved only because of the extensive awareness campaign about its extinction.

He said when he was the chief minister of Rajasthan, the prince of Iraq had been permitted by the Central government to hunt the Great Indian Bustard. But he refused to cow down and did not let the prince hunt the endangered bird.

He said the Great Indian Bustard bird was hunted more because of its meat. The bird was hunted and killed more during the three wars with Pakistan.

Reiterating that the Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary was safe for Siberian cranes, he said the administration was concerned that the cranes were not coming to the park anymore.

PWD minister Rajendra Singh Rathore said on the occasion that the state government was concerned about the conservation of wildlife and urged wildlife experts and lovers to come forward to help in the cause.

The book's author Mr Singh said the main problem of Keoladeo Park was its water scarcity. Scarce rainfall and the increased height of Panchna dam were the reasons behind water shortage in the park, creating an imbalance in the environment.

UNI