KIDS CORNER

Children and Youth Painting Competition on Indus Blind Dolphin

In order to create awareness about the protection and conservation of Indus Blind Dolphin among young people of Pakistan a painting competition was organized by STFP from 15 May to 30 June 2015. The organizing committee invites children from the age group of 10 to 15 and youth from 16 to 22 to participate in this painting competition. More than 700 entries were received from students in both categories. A five member committee of judges was formed to select the best three paintings in each category. The following students were selected by the judges as the winners of this competition:-
 

Winners in Youth Category

1 Fatima Ahmad  Crescent Model School, Lahore 1st Rs.5,000.

2 Muhammad Yasir Sir Syed College, Kot Addu 2nd RS.2,500.

3 Asia Bano Sir Syed College, Kot Addu 3rd RS.1,500.

Winners in Children Category

Qurat-ul-Ain Lord Education Complex, Kot Addu 1st Rs.5,000.

Esha Mubarak Al Hamd School, Kot Addu 2nd RS.2,500.

Ali Raza Shanzay Public School Kot Addu 3rd RS.1,500.

A prize distribution ceremony was held in Aroma Inn Hotel, Kot Addu on 09 September 2015. Large number of student and teachers from various schools and people from different walk of life attended this colorful event. Mr. Mehr Mukhtar Ahmed District Officer Education attended as Chief Guest and distributed awards and merit certificates among the winners of this painting competition.

Mr. Aftab Rana, President of STFP and Team Leader of Indus Dolphin Ecotourism Project in his multimedia presentation informed the audience that the Indus Blind Dolphin is one of the world's rarest mammals and the most endangered freshwater river dolphin in the world. He informed that approximately 1400 blind dolphins exist today in the central and lower reaches of the Indus River in Pakistan. He said that the population of this species has gradually declined because of various factors, including water pollution, poaching, fragmentation of habitat due to barrages, and dolphin strandings in the irrigation canals. He said Indus Blind Dolphin is struggling for its survival in the waters of Indus River and it is a fact if no major efforts have been made to save these dolphins it could become extinct in couple of years. He also appreciated the interest of students in this painting competition and congratulated the winners.

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