Conservation biologist Neha Sinha has stated that cities cannot just be for human beings and must include wildlife in urban planning. Speaking at the Corbett Literature Festival, she explained that noticing overlooked local species is the first step to making cities welcoming to animals and birds.
Sinha pointed out that cities like Delhi are rich in bird life, including lesser-known birds like the green pigeon.
People only know the blue rock pigeon, while the green pigeon remains unrecognized by many city residents. She urged people to pay attention to local birds, learn what they eat, and provide proper plants and shelter so they can return.
The conservation expert explained that
small actions can help bring back birds like the house sparrow. Sparrows need insects to feed their chicks and small hedges to rest. Sinha urged residents to rethink the idea of neat lawns, reduce chemical use, and leave fallen leaves on the ground to shelter insects and small creatures.
Sinha encouraged people to learn the names of native Indian trees and flowers and grow them locally. She also emphasized that
other predators besides tigers need conservation focus, mentioning the threatened Indian wolf and hyenas which live in grasslands and open areas outside dense forests.
