National Zoological Park organises 2nd ‘Tree Walk’ and 11th ‘Sunday Bird Walk’ at Delhi Zoo

The National Zoological Park, New Delhi successfully organised the 2nd edition of 'Tree Walk @ NZP' along with its 11th Sunday Bird Walk on 23rd August 2026. The programme was organised as part of the Zoo's ongoing Citizen Science Initiative, which aims to encourage public participation in biodiversity documentation, monitoring and conservation awareness.
The Tree Walk was conducted from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM under the expert guidance of Dr. C. R. Magesh (Scientist-D), while the Bird Walk was conducted under the guidance of ornithology expert Dr. Paritosh Ahmed. The programme received an enthusiastic response from nature enthusiasts, students, wildlife photographers, biodiversity researchers, NZP interns and volunteers, as well as citizens interested in nature and conservation. A total of 25 participants took part in the walks. The programme was attended by the Director of National Zoological Park, zoo officials, interns, volunteers and resource experts, who guided and supported the participants throughout the activities.

During the walks, participants documented 42 bird species, with observations of more than 300 individual birds, along with 40 tree species in the walk area. A notable highlight of the Bird Walk was the presence of more than 150 Painted Storks, which arrived at the National Zoological Park during the second week of August and have begun nesting on trees in and around the pond. Their arrival and nesting are encouraging indicators of the ecological value of the Zoo's wetland and tree habitats. The nesting activity also provides an important opportunity for visitors, interns, volunteers and citizen scientists to observe and understand natural bird behaviour and breeding ecology.
During the programme, Dr. Paritosh shared an interesting account of a male Painted Stork named 'Ringo', which has been observed making its nest in the same area for the past four years. Further observations and study of the bird are being continued by zoo interns. The Tree Walk provided participants with practical guidance on tree identification using features such as leaf morphology, bark characteristics, flowers, fruits and canopy structure. Participants also gained insights into the valuable ecosystem services provided by trees, including carbon sequestration, air purification, temperature regulation, soil conservation and the creation of habitats for diverse flora and fauna.
The programme encouraged participants to systematically document their observations while developing a deeper appreciation of the critical role of trees in sustaining healthy urban ecosystems. It also provided an opportunity to explore and document the diversity of trees and birds within the Zoo landscape while learning scientific methods of observation, species identification and biodiversity data recording.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director, National Zoological Park, emphasised that trees form the foundation of healthy ecosystems by supporting countless species and providing invaluable ecosystem services. He noted that Nature Walks @ NZP strengthen public awareness, encourage citizen participation in biodiversity documentation and inspire greater responsibility towards conserving urban forests and green landscapes.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion and feedback session, followed by a group photograph of the participants, experts and zoo officials. Participation in each Sunday Nature Walk is limited to 20-25 participants to ensure a meaningful and quality learning experience.
Prior registration is mandatory and is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested participants may register through the designated Google Form, which remains open from Monday to Friday each week. The registration link is available on the official website of the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, and through the 'NZP Sathi' mobile application.
The next nature walks - 'Sunday Reptile, Amphibians and Mollusc Walk' and 'Sunday Bird Walk' - are scheduled to be held on 30th August, 2026 (Sunday).