Indian city of Indore celebrates wildlife week

Officials at the Indore Zoo in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh have been busy promoting wildlife awareness through activities for the 58th wildlife week.

A photography competition on Wednesday followed the drawing competition of the first day of the wildlife week, with locals and holidaymakers able to take part.

Zoo director Dr Uttam Yadav said: "We have the entire week's programme planned and we are already proceeding according to it, after inaugurating the world wildlife week on Tuesday. We have a combination of dance-drama set on the theme of conservation of forests and wildlife, which will be staged on the October 7 when will conclude the programme."

Many of the activities are designed to engage school-age children, Yadav said.

In addition to a tree-planting on Thursday, fine arts students took part in another drawing competition. Each of the zoo's 336 animals were also given a medical check-up.

Wildlife week activities are also being carried out by the forest department, which has organised bird-watching on for Friday and Saturday in the Sirpur bird sanctuary.

"We will be taking the school students to the Sirpur lake and guide them on bird identification," said animal rights activist Ajay Gadikar.