Mysuru, March 24 -- City's renowned snake rescuer Snake Shyam has given a call to save various species of birds, including sparrows that are integral to the conservation of environment.

He was speaking after inaugurating Sparrow Festival, organised as part of World Sparrow Day, by KMPK Trust, by hanging water and food containers to the trees at Maharaja's College Grounds in city on Thursday.

Shyam said, "We all grew up amid sparrows, which have vanished now. Hence, it is inevitable to focus on conserving all the species of birds in view of maintaining the ecological balance."

There are about 25 species in sparrows alone, but they are on the verge of extinction. Strangely, these birds are facing threat from humans only, which calls for ...