Source ForPressRelease.com

Shri Suresh Prabhu, Honourable Minister for Commerce & Industry, lends his unconditional support to ‘Gaj Mahotsav’, and commemorates the efforts for the launch of this one-of-its-kind elephant festival on the special occasion of World Elephant Day. Leading wildlife conservation NGO, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has launched a four-day long festival celebrating the majestic Asian elephant from August 12-15, 2018 at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Arts, New Delhi. The festival is being organized in association with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and in partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and UN Environment.



Shri Suresh Prabhu, Honourable Minister for Commerce & Industry had launched the Gaj Yatra in Mumbai in August last year, from the precincts on Shri Siddhivinayak temple in the presence of a huge gathering of government , bollywood and Mumbaikars. Exactly a year since, he shared the key role of the elephant in shaping our culture as well as maintaining the ecological balance as he stated, “The population of these majestic elephants is critically threatened by the increasing man-animal conflicts. During my tenure as the Railway Minister I had addressed the need to build elephant corridors as we encroach their homes and natural paths while building railway tracks across forests. There is a need to align infrastructure and development efforts with wildlife conservation efforts to create an ideal balance where both can thrive without negatively impacting the other. The Gaj Mahotsav is an important step in creating awareness for the same and I look forward to supporting the initiative and the efforts to conserve our National Heritage Animal.”



India has a little over 27,000 wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus); about 55% of the species’ estimated global population. Yet these natural nomads face an increasingly uncertain future in the country. The resource requirements of India’s growing human population has led to the destruction and fragmentation of wild habitats across the country, depleting the area available for elephants to roam. The traditional migratory paths of the wild elephants have been adversely impacted.



The festival aims to enhance awareness for the conservation efforts necessary to protect and preserve our national heritage animal across the country. Artists from across the country have created 101 life sized elephant art pieces representing the 101 elephant corridors of India, which serves as a jumbo draw for the public. Open to public, over the next few days the event will witness active participation from policy makers, industry leaders, influencers from the world of entertainment, sports, arts and culture, eminent conservationists and artists and the people from Delhi- NCR.



Over the next few days, the Gaj Mahotsav, which is open to the public, will see dance and music performances by distinguished artistes such as Mallika Sarabhai and Astad Deboo to showcase the elephant in Indian tradition; films and talks by filmmakers Ashish ChandolaKrishnendu Bose on the majestic elephant; an exhibition of elephant themed art and photographs uniquely curated by acclaimed Curators Ina Puri and Alka Pande. In addition, there will be various workshops for children like Bulbul Sharma’s story -telling and painting, shadow puppet workshop by Dadi Pudumjee and a cartooning workshop by Rohan Chakravarthy.



Vivek Menon, Executive Director and CEO, Wildlife Trust of India expressed the urgent need to protect this majestic being, as he stated, “I am extremely delighted to launch the Gaj Mahotsav, on the extremely special occasion of World Elephant Day, to celebrate and salute our biggest national treasure – the Asian elephant. While we are privileged to have the largest population of these majestic beings in India, our ignorance for their safety and basic right for safe and secure movement across the elephant corridors is also putting human lives in danger. In order to protect India’s rich biodiversity, it is imperative for each one of us to recognise that elephants need right of passage. The Gaj Mahotsav celebrates the elephant as India’s National Heritage Animal and mobilizes popular support for elephants. Over the next four days I invite everyone to come, visit, participate and marvel at this fascinating species that has for eons been an integral part of our national heritage.”