Imagine walking through Ziro’s lush green forests, hearing birds call from the treetops and spotting colourful butterflies fluttering along the trail.
Now imagine someone helping you put a name to the birds and butterflies you see!
Most of us know Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro Valley for its famous music festival, sprawling paddy fields and beautiful landscapes. But its forests have a fascinating world of wildlife waiting to be explored.
And this October, 630 people got a chance to discover it.
At the valley’s first Ziro Bird and Butterfly Festival, students, local residents and wildlife enthusiasts headed into the forests for four days of birdwatching, butterfly spotting, nature treks and hands-on learning with conservation experts.
Organised by the Hapoli Forest Division alongside the 72nd Wildlife Week, the festival had a simple idea at heart: help people discover the wildlife around them and understand why it needs protecting.
And what better place to begin than the forests themselves?
Beyond the music, what makes Ziro’s forests so special?
Ziro’s music may draw visitors from across the country, but its surrounding forests have plenty worth exploring, too.
Located in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district, the valley is part of the biodiversity-rich Eastern Himalayan landscape, home to a remarkable variety of birds, butterflies, moths and other wildlife.
Some are easy to spot. Others require a little patience, curiosity and someone who knows where to look.
That’s where the festival came in.
Led by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Tilling Takar, with support from Deputy Commissioner Oli Perme, the initiative brought forest officials, scientists, schools and community organisations together.
The idea was to help people get to know the wildlife living around them. After all, when you can recognise a bird by its call or identify a butterfly fluttering past, even a familiar walk can become an exciting discovery.
And the organisers wanted children to be part of that experience from the very beginning.
It started with paintbrushes, poems and a promise
Before anyone headed into the forest, students from local schools were invited to participate in wildlife-painting, poetry and essay-writing competitions.
Organised in collaboration with the Apatani Students’ Union, these activities encouraged children to think about nature in their own creative ways.
The opening programme at Saint Claret College brought together over 450 people and representatives from 19 local organisations.
Together, they pledged to protect the valley’s natural heritage.
There were exhibitions showcasing local plants and animals, along with sessions on wildlife laws and how to stay safe around reptiles.
Traditional music performances, boxing and martial arts demonstrations by local youth groups added to the celebrations.
It was a lively start, bringing people of different ages and interests together around a shared love for nature.
But the most exciting part was still ahead.
From bird calls to butterfly trails, the real adventure begins
On the second day, participants swapped the college grounds for a forest trail.
Deputy Commissioner Oli Perme flagged off a trek from Manipolyang towards Pange Camp in Tale Wildlife Sanctuary.
There was one important rule for the journey: keep it plastic-free and leave no waste behind.
It was a practical reminder that enjoying nature comes with the responsibility of looking after it.
At Pange Camp, wildlife experts introduced participants to the fascinating world of birds, butterflies and moths.
Specialists associated with Bird Count India, the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), and the Wildlife Trust of India helped guide the activities.
Over the final two days, participants joined early-morning birdwatching walks and butterfly-identification sessions along the Orchid Trail.
Think about it. How often have you heard a bird calling from a tree but had no idea which one it was? Or spotted a beautiful butterfly without knowing anything about it?
Here, participants had experts to help answer those questions.
They learnt how to observe wildlife, recognise different species and understand the habitats these creatures depend on.
The evenings brought research presentations and wildlife documentaries, helping connect what participants had seen outdoors with the importance of conservation.
And there was plenty to learn.
Birds, butterflies and moths all have important roles in nature. Many help plants reproduce through pollination, while others are part of the food chain. Studying them can also help scientists understand changes in forest habitats.
Getting to know these creatures is one way to begin caring about their survival.
The festival is over. But will the curiosity stay?
After four days of activities, the festival concluded at Pange Camp, where competition winners and participants received certificates and awards.
During the closing ceremony, DFO Tilling Takar expressed hope that the Ziro Bird and Butterfly Festival would become a regular part of Arunachal Pradesh’s annual calendar.
And that could make a meaningful difference.
A four-day festival cannot protect an entire forest. Wildlife conservation needs continued effort from forest officials, researchers and the communities who share their surroundings with these creatures.
But imagine what this experience could mean for a child who has learnt to identify a butterfly for the first time.
The next time they spot one near their home, they might stop for a closer look. Someone who attended a birdwatching walk might become curious about the birds visiting their garden. And a traveller who learnt to leave no waste behind might carry that habit into their next forest adventure.
These may seem like small things, but they are the kind of awareness the organisers hope to encourage.
For now, Ziro will continue to draw visitors with its music, culture and breathtaking landscapes.
But its newest festival has given people another reason to explore: to look up into the trees, follow a bird’s call, pause for a butterfly and discover the wonderful wildlife that has been here all along.
Source:
‘Ziro Concludes First Bird and Butterfly Festival with 630 Participants’: By Arunachal24, Published on 10 October 2026
‘Ziro Bird and Butterfly Festival begins’: By Arunachal Times, Published on 5 October 2026
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thebetterindia.com
