The Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Forest, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, has announced a series of competitions as part of the 71st Wildlife Week celebrations. The events aim to raise awareness about the Islands’ unique biodiversity while offering creative residents a platform to showcase their talent.
Three categories of contests will be held: wildlife photography, canvas art painting, and poster making. The photography contest will focus on birds, mammals, corals, mangroves, and biodiversity, with participants required to submit hard copies of photographs sized 18” x 12” along with a digital JPEG copy. Watermarked or copyrighted images will not be accepted.
In the canvas art painting competition, artists are expected to submit traditional artworks sized 24” x 32” that portray the biodiversity of the Islands. Digital art is not permitted, and entries must be created with conventional materials such as pencils, paints, and canvas cloth.
The poster-making contest will require entries of 24” x 36” size, based on themes of endemic birds and biodiversity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Organizers have stressed the importance of clarity, logical flow, and sufficient background detail so that the posters can effectively communicate their conservation message.
The competitions are open to all residents of the Islands, with entries to be submitted either in person on working days between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or via post/courier. Submissions should be addressed to the Range Officer, Protection Range, Wildlife Division, Haddo, Sri Vijaya Puram, PIN 744102, and must reach by October 4 at 3 p.m. Participants are required to provide their name, address, contact number, and email separately on plain paper for correspondence.
Officials have clarified that downloaded, printed, or digital works will be summarily rejected. All accepted submissions will become property of the Department, which may use them for awareness campaigns or public interest programmes, with due credit given to the creators.
The winners of the contests will be honored during the valedictory function of Wildlife Week, with details of the ceremony to be communicated later. For further information, residents may contact the Range Officer at 03192-245229 or 7550002017.
By combining creativity with conservation, the competitions are expected to bring the Islands’ residents closer to the fragile ecosystems they live alongside. The Wildlife Division hopes that this initiative will inspire greater participation in preserving the unique biodiversity of the archipelago.
