Shimla October3
The second day of Wildlife Week 2026 in Himachal Pradesh saw a mega cycling rally organised by the Wildlife Wing of the state Forest Department to promote awareness about wildlife conservation, environmental protection and healthy living.
The rally began at Dhalli Gate in the Shimla Water Catchment area and passed through Ramchandra Chowk, Dhalli and Sanjauli before returning to the starting point. A cycling race was also organised along the designated route following the rally.The event was flagged off by Abhilash Damodaran, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration and Human Resource Development), and Kirupa Shankar, IFS, Conservator of Forests (Finance).
The initiative aimed to encourage young people and local residents to connect with nature while promoting fitness and a greater understanding of the importance of protecting forests and wildlife. The cycling rally formed part of a week-long series of activities being organised to engage people with Himachal Pradesh’s rich natural heritage.
Participants were also felicitated for their performance in different categories. In the Male Under-19 category, Aradhay Verma won the first prize of ₹10,000, followed by Ruben with ₹6,000 and Aarav Thakur with ₹3,000.In the Female category, Beena Devi secured the first prize of ₹10,000, while Surbhi Thakur and Anjali Thakur received ₹6,000 and ₹3,000, respectively.In the Male Above-19 category, Gaurav Nagi won the first prize of ₹10,000. Ajay Kumar and Dishant Chauhan secured the second and third positions, receiving ₹6,000 and ₹3,000, respectively.
The winners were presented certificates and mementoes along with the prize money. The Wildlife Wing has encouraged cycling enthusiasts, nature lovers and members of the public to participate in the week-long activities and help spread the message of wildlife conservation across the state.
Preeti Bhandari, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Shimla; Dr Shahnawaz Bhatt, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests; Anita Bhardwaj, HPFS, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife); Devender Singh Chauhan, HPFS, Assistant Conservator of Forests (Publicity); and Rupender Sharma, Range Forest Officer (Wildlife), along with other Forest Department officials, staff members and participants, were present on the occasion.
