Abstract of 1st Orientation Programme of Zoo Ambassadors

ABSTRACT OF 1ST ORIENTATION PROGRAMME OF ZOO AMBASSADORS
23rd June, 2024

The Zoo Ambassador Selection Test was conducted in 53 schools on 12th December 2023. A total of 633 students appeared the exam. Out of which 183 students appeared in English and 455 students appeared the exam in Odia. Schools from fourteen districts, namely Khordha, Cuttack, Rayagada, Angul, Bargarh, Ganjam, Bolangir, Puri, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur participated in the Zoo Ambassador Selection Test. Maximum number of schools participated from Khordha and Cuttack districts.

A representative team from Nandankanan comprising of Education Officer, Assistant Education Officer and Zoo Volunteers visited the nearby schools of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to make sure of the smooth execution of the test.

The result of the test was unveiled on 64th Foundation Day of Nandankanan by Sri Pradeep Kumar Amat, Hon'ble Minister, Forest, Environment and Climate Change. Now Nandankanan has 51 Zoo Ambassadors from all over Odisha. The duration of the Zoo Ambassador is from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024.

The 1st orientation programme for Zoo Ambassadors was conducted on 23rd June, 2024 at Nandankanan Zoological Park where 43 Zoo Ambassadors from 13 districts attended the programme with their teacher and parent. Maximum students were from Khordha (11) and Cuttack (10) district and remaining were from Keonjhar (6), Puri (3), Bargarh (3), Ganjam (2), Dhenkanal (2), Bolangir, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Jajpur, Angul & Balasore.

The students got the opportunity to interact with Depuy Director, Nandankanan, Sri Sanath Kumar N. and ACF Sanctuary Management Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Swain, ACF Visitor management & State Botanical Garden Dr. Sudipta Kumar Panda in the inaugural session. The students shared their views about being an ambassador and after inaugural session were taken for a zoo visit accompanied by Zoo Volunteers.

The Zoo Ambassadors learned varied novel things like making balls with native seeds, a practice to propagate seeds on barren lands. They also learnt making paper out of water hyacinth which is otherwise considered as a weed.

The students also learnt about gadgets used in wildlife conservation like they got the opportunity to see the live demo of camera trap, transmitters, spotting scope, binoculars and macro lens.

There was an interactive quiz session in the second half where the winners received informative books on birds and butterflies as encouragement. This was followed by Valedictory session which was headed by Dr. Sarat Kumar Mishra, Senior Veterinary Officer, Dr. Rashmai Ranjan Swain, ACF (Sanctuary Management), Dr. Sudipta Kumar Panda, ACF (Visitor Management & State Botanical Garden),Sri Milan Kumar Panda,Education Officer & Dr Santosh Gupta, Zoo Vets & Dr Vikram T., Zoo Vets.

The Zoo Ambassadors received a certificate on completion of their first orientation programme. The ambassadors along with their parents and teachers shared their experiences and departed. The ambassadors are now trained to carry out small awareness programmes in their schools as well.