Chief Minister inaugurates Butterfly Park, and releases the Coffee Table Book

Gorakhpur : On Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Elephant Rescue Center at the Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Park and a Butterfly Park. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that even animals possess compassion. He said, “When treated with care and affection, animals naturally gravitate toward humans.” He also unveiled a coffee table book and planted saplings at the park.

He highlighted the importance of adopting a sensitive approach towards nature, the environment, animals, and birds to maintain ecological balance. “If we are environment-friendly, nature, in turn, will nurture us with a better environment,” he remarked. The CM noted that the zoological park, spanning 121 acres, houses over 350 species, including animals and birds.

During his visit, he fed sugarcane, bananas, jaggery, and grams to the park’s elephants and rhinoceroses named Har and Gauri. Students Kritika and Vaishnav from the NPA Academy presented him with a portrait as a token of appreciation.

Regarding Uttar Pradesh’s afforestation efforts, CM Yogi highlighted that more than 100 crore saplings have been planted over the past seven to eight years, significantly increasing the state’s forest cover.

He also talked about the upcoming Jatayu Conservation Center in Campierganj and expressed a vision for a central Horticulture and Forestry University, recognizing its importance for the state.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for the younger generation to understand the value of environmental preservation. He urged people to avoid practices harmful to the environment, such as using single-use plastics.

He advocated for proactive steps like planting ten trees annually and promoting rainwater harvesting to conserve water. He noted that safeguarding the environment would ensure a brighter future for current and coming generations.

Reflecting on the zoological park’s impact, the CM shared that it has welcomed over 30 lakh visitors since its inauguration on March 27, 2021, including more than 10 lakh students. He highlighted its dual role in environmental conservation and public recreation.

Additionally, he commended Gorakhpur Rural MLA Vipin Singh for donating an elephant named Ganga Prasad to the Elephant Rescue Center, describing it as a pioneering gesture.

The CM also named several animals at the park. A male wolf brought from Bahraich was named Bhairav, and a female wolf was named Bhairavi. He recounted how the pair, part of a pack that had caused harm in Bahraich, was rescued and relocated to the park. A tiger from the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, rescued in September 2024, was named Kesari and released into its enclosure during the event.

This thoughtful engagement underscores the CM’s commitment to wildlife conservation, environmental protection, and public awareness.

During this, Minister of State for Forest and Environment (Independent Charge) Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena, Minister of State KP Malik, MP Ravi Kishan, Mayor Dr. Manglesh Shrivastava, District Panchayat President Sadhana Singh, MLA Shriram Chauhan, Vipin Singh, Fateh Bahadur Singh, Rajesh Tripathi, Vimlesh Paswan, Mahendra Pal Singh, Pradeep Shukla, Vice President of Women’s Commission Charu Chaudhary, Mahant Ravindra Das Ji Maharaj, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Department Sunil Chaudhary etc. were present.