On World Forestry Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath turned the spotlight on youthful heroism by honoring two children who stared down a leopard to safeguard their loved ones. The ceremony at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow celebrated not just their daring feats but also excellence in forestry and wildlife sectors.
CM Yogi described these young saviors as beacons for society, emphasizing how their quick thinking averted potential tragedies. The event extended recognition to dedicated forest staff and NGOs driving conservation efforts.
Ten-year-old Acchelal from Bahraich etched his name in bravery on December 6, 2025. Pedaling back from the farm with his father, he faced a sudden leopard attack amid sugarcane fields. Undeterred, the boy fought back fiercely, compelling the predator to flee.
In another gripping tale, Tanu Singh, 18, from Prayagraj acted decisively on January 8, 2026. A leopard intruded into her family’s home in Chivaiya; Tanu calmly led two toddlers to safety and barricaded the animal, paving the way for a safe rescue operation.
Forestry heroes like Pushpendra Singh (Moradabad), Sunil Kumar Gaund (Hamirpur), Shivam Kumar (Rampur), and Reena Sharma (Eta) received commendation letters. Organizations such as Lokbharti’s Brijendra Pal Singh and Helping Hands’ Satyendra Kumar Srivastava from Jhansi were applauded.
The CM further boosted green initiatives by handing over carbon credit cheques to Kushinagar’s Ishwar Chand and Raebareli’s Sunita, rewarding eco-friendly farming.
The program kicked off with Yogi inspecting a forest department exhibition, joined by Forest Ministers Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena and KP Malik. This gathering reaffirms Uttar Pradesh’s resolve to balance human safety with wildlife protection and forest restoration.