Hyderabad, Oct. 6 : Thousands of visitors including schoolchildren, tourists and local families are thronging the Nehru Zoological Park, which is country’s first lions safari park, during the celebrations of World Wildlife Week.

The special occasion has turned the park one of the most favourite destinations in Hyderabad for the last few days, as the officials are marking the week (Oct. 1 to 7) as ‘Vanya Jeev Mahotsav’.

Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh has made elaborate arrangements for the success of this event by organising many competitions such as ''Quiz on Nature and Wildlife'' and on the spot Painting competition to spread awareness about wildlife and the need to protect the animals.

"Wildlife week has completed its 53rd year this time. We also celebrated this event in remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi since he always talked about the welfare of wildlife and following his footsteps we also want a better deal and life for the animals. We have also come up with the concept of artificial insemination so that the rarely found species don''t become extinct from this world," said Hitesh Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh.

The enthusiastic participation of children, almost every day during the week long celebrations of Vanya Jeev Mahatosav, has encouraged the organizers here.

For the elocution competition, the topics varied from ''Future of Tigers in India'' and ''Rivers, Our Lifeline and How to save these?'' ''Do the Rivers and Wild Animals have a future?'' and ''Role of Mankind in Saving Nature''. (ANI)