Wild Orissa, a wildlife and nature conservation group, working in the state of Orissa and elsewhere for the last 8 years, celebrated wildlife and launched the ‘WILDLIFE AFFAIRS 2004’ a week long event from 1^st October 2004 to 7^th October 2004. This event a very unique and rare occasion to celebrate this country’s rich wildlife overlapped the Wildlife Week. This event was launched by the Hon’ble Finance Minister of Orissa Mr. P.C.Ghadei on 1^st October 2004 at the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra, Kharavela Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Orissa in the forenoon. The Chief Wildlife Warden of Orissa Mr. S.C.Mohanty IFS attended the launch as Guest of Honour.

A rare collection of wildlife photographs were unveiled to the public on this day. The exhibition was open for public from 1^st October 2004 till 7^th October 2004, formed part of ‘WILDLIFE AFFAIRS’. There were 250 colour photographs, shot by 14 photographers, covering many rare events in wildlife of this country. The photographs were of 16”X20” size and laminated. The public was appreciative of ‘Wild Orissa’s efforts in this regard.

As part of the celebrations for wildlife, essay competitions in English and Oriya were organized for school students. Students from 40 schools participated.

An on the spot painting competition for school students was organized on the 3^rd October 2004 as part of ‘WILDLIFE AFFAIRS 2004’. Students from 50 schools participated.

The winners of different competitions were awarded by the Chief Wildlife Warden of Orissa at a public function on the 7^th October 2004 at the Rashtriya Lalit Kala Kendra, Bhubaneswar.

To further raise the conscious level for the cause of wildlife conservation the city of Bhubaneswar were splashed with colour banners on Indian wildlife.