The National Zoological Park (NZP) in New Delhi has held its fifteenth Sunday Bird Walk and fourth Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk as part of efforts to involve ordinary citizens in wildlife monitoring and conservation. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change runs the park, which is now using these guided nature walks to encourage people to document and observe biodiversity on its grounds.
During the recent walks, which ran from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, participants recorded 47 bird species with over 750 individual sightings, along with 8 butterfly species, 10 dragonfly species and 5 damselfly species. Expert guides including a bird specialist and butterfly expert led groups through the park while volunteers helped with species identification and documentation.
Key facts
- 15th edition of Sunday Bird Walk held at National Zoological Park, New Delhi
- 4th edition of Butterfly and Dragonfly Walk completed
- 47 bird species documented with over 750 individual birds observed
- 8 butterfly species, 10 dragonfly species and 5 damselfly species recorded
- 15 participants attended the recent walks
- Expert guides: Rohit Sharma (Bird Expert) and Ramver (Butterfly and Dragonfly Expert)
- Walk timings: 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM
- Maximum 20-25 participants per walk to ensure quality learning
- Registration required on first-come, first-served basis
- Registration link available on NZP website and NZP Sathi mobile app
- Registration window: Monday to Friday each week
What is citizen science and biodiversity documentation
Citizen science involves ordinary people collecting data about wildlife and nature in their surroundings under expert guidance. The walks at NZP serve as a practical framework for this approach. Participants learn to identify different species, understand their behaviour and ecology, and contribute observations that add to scientific knowledge about the park’s ecosystem. This data helps researchers track species presence, population trends and habitat health over time.
How the walks work
Each walk is limited to 20 to 25 participants to maintain quality experience and effective learning. Prior registration is mandatory through a Google Form available on the NZP website or the NZP Sathi mobile application. The registration window opens every Monday and closes on Friday each week. During walks, expert naturalists guide groups, share knowledge about species ecology and behaviour, and help participants develop species identification skills. The observations collected contribute to the park’s biodiversity records and support conservation planning.
Wildlife Week 2026 celebrations
The National Zoological Park will celebrate Wildlife Week from 2 October to 8 October 2026 with a range of activities open to the public at no cost. The park has invited school students from government and private schools across Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region to participate in both offline and online programmes.
Activities planned include nature walks such as Tree Walk, Reptile and Amphibian Walk, Spider and Insect Walk, as well as educational talks by zookeepers and expert discussions. Competitions will include wildlife poster making, clay modelling, bird nest making, bird feeder making, drawing, leaf craft, rangoli, treasure hunts, quizzes and essay writing. Online competitions will run simultaneously, including photography, poster making and quiz activities.
Free entry and participation
All Wildlife Week activities and competitions are free to attend. Participants in these programmes will receive free entry to the National Zoological Park from 2 to 8 October 2026, along with their school teachers, accompanying staff and parents. Additionally, all children up to 12 years of age will be granted free park entry during Wildlife Week regardless of whether they are participating in competitions.
Detailed information about specific competitions, schedules and registration for Wildlife Week activities will be published on the NZP official website and through the NZP Sathi mobile application in the coming weeks.
What this means for you
If you are a nature enthusiast, student or school-going child in Delhi-NCR, you now have free opportunities to learn wildlife observation skills from experts, document biodiversity and participate in nature-based competitions. The regular Sunday Bird Walks and Butterfly Walks offer ongoing chances to engage with nature throughout the year. Wildlife Week in October provides a concentrated set of free activities with guaranteed park entry, making it an accessible way to develop conservation awareness and connect with the natural world.
What happens next
The National Zoological Park will publish full details of Wildlife Week 2026 activities and online registration details on its website and mobile app. Schools and interested individuals can begin registering for specific activities in the weeks leading up to October 2026. The regular Sunday Bird Walks and Butterfly Walks will continue with weekly registration through the Google Form and mobile app.