Clean-up drive, awareness activities mark Wildlife Week celebrations in Coimbatore

The Forest Department, with the support of non-governmental organisations, organised mass clean-up drives and other awareness activities on Sunday, October 4, 2026, as part of celebrating the Wildlife Week, from October 2 to 8.

V. Thirumurugan, Forest Range Officer, Coimbatore range, said waste discarded by pilgrims and trekkers at Perumalmudi and Melmudi were removed by volunteers from the Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu and Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Trust on Saturday and Sunday. Discarded footwear, plastic and other waste were removed from the trekking trail in the forest. He said that around 300 kg of waste was removed from Perumalmudi alone on Sunday.

Mr. Thirumurugan said volunteers and Department staff will remove waste on Anaikatti Road, which passes through the reserve forest area, on Monday.

At Kovai Courtallam, volunteers of Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust conducted an awareness activity, educating visitors on the dangers of feeding wild animals, littering plastic waste in forests, disturbing wild animals and going close to them to click photographs or selfies. They also educated visitors on the need to drive carefully on roads passing through forests, to prevent wild animals from getting hit by vehicles.

Boluvampatti Forest Range Officer M. Saravanan said a cleaning drive will be held at Kovai Courtallam on Tuesday. 

The Forest Department and the Airports Authority of India have joined hands to display photographs of Tamil Nadu’s State animal Nilgiri Tahr, State bird Emerald Dove, and State butterfly Tamil Yeoman with descriptions on digital boards at the airport to create awareness among the passengers on these species.