CM inaugurates elephant rescue centre, Butterfly Park at Gorakhpur zoo

Gorakhpur: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the importance of maintaining a sensitive approach towards nature, wildlife, and the environment to ensure ecological balance while inaugurating elephant rescue centre at Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan zoo in Gorakhpur on Monday.

Addressing the event, he said, "If we are in harmony with the environment, it will provide us with a better quality of life." He also launched a Butterfly Park and unveiled a coffee table book on the occasion.

Later, he planted sapling and fed sugarcane, bananas, jaggery, and gram to elephants Har and Gauri at the zoo. Students of NPA Academy Kritika and Vaishnav gifted the CM a portrait.

CM Yogi said that over 100 crore saplings have been planted in the past seven to eight years, significantly increasing forest cover in Uttar Pradesh. He mentioned plans to establish a horticulture and forestry university in Campierganj. He urged the younger generation to understand the significance of environmental conservation and appealed everyone to plant atleast 10 plants in a year. He called for the elimination of single-use plastic, advocating rainwater harvesting and efficient water usage to secure a brighter future for both present and upcoming generations.

Since its inauguration, Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan zoo has welcomed over 30 lakh visitors, including 10 lakh students. CM Yogi remarked that the park is not only a hub for entertainment but also promotes environmental awareness

He lauded Gorakhpur Rural MLA Vipin Singh for donating an elephant named Ganga Prasad to the Elephant Rescue Center, calling it an innovative gesture. "The more harmony we have with nature, the brighter our future will be," CM Yogi concluded.

CM Named two wolves and a tiger

CM Yogi named two wolves rescued from Bahraich as Bhairav (male) and Bhairavi (female). The wolves were brought to Gorakhpur Zoo after they attacked and killed several children in Bahraich. The CM also named a tiger rescued from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve as Kesari. Rescued in September 2024, the tiger was released into its enclosure on Monday.