As the world celebrated Valentine's Day on February 14, a group of young wildlife and environment enthusiasts came out to the streets of Guwahati along with a Hargila (Greater Adjutant Stork) to create awareness about plastic waste and plastic pollution and the threat it possesses to our wildlife and the environment.

Delhi-based NGO Arth Art for Humanity collaborated with Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden and staged a performance art and urged the people to protect wildlife and stop plastic pollution.

The performance was staged by Shivam Saikia- a Guwahati-based artist who dressed as a Hargila and picked plastic waste and ate it symbolically.

ALSO READ | Assam Artist Starts Fundraising Campaign To Support Menstrual Hygiene

By cleaning the plastic littered by the visitors, the performance art highlighted the threat the endangered scavenger bird in particular and the wildlife at large is facing from plastic.

As the Hargila turned everyone’s eyes, a group of volunteers educated the audience about the 3 Rs – Reduce, Refuse & Recycle.

School students, young children as well as elderlies in large number received the message, with many seeking more information on source segregation of plastic.

"Valentine's Day is not just about the love that blossoms between two human hearts, but it is also about the love between humans and nature. It was heartwarming to see this group perform here and share the all-important message," said Chandan Das, a visitor to the zoo.

Shivam Saikia as Hargila

Rittyz Kashyap, ARTH's co-founder thanked the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical garden's officials- especially DFO Tejas Marisway- for coming forward and collaborating for the cause.

Parisha Dutta, Gargi Thakuria, Senorita Das, Rupankar Bhattacharjee and Shirshendu Shekhar Das were the part of the group who volunteered for the cause.

It may be mentioned here that every year over a hundred birds and animals die by chocking caused by plastic in their food pipe.

Due to the lack of awareness among the general public about the dangers of plastic, the situation is getting grimmer with every passing day.

In such a situation the Hargila act to generate awareness on plastic waste needs to be applauded.