Lucknow, Aug 5 - In a novel way to promote environmental awareness on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a Lucknow zoo Wednesday asked its visitors to tie a rakhi around a tree and take an oath to protect the green cover in their vicinity.

As many as 1,001 colourful rakhis were put on display at the entrance to the zoo, from where the visitors had to select one and tie it around a tree on the premises of the zoological gardens.

'It's an initiative to sensitise the public towards environment, protection of trees in particular,' director Renu Singh told IANS.

'The whole idea behind the exercise is to bond the visitors with the trees and not to allow their felling.'

The zoo officials also tied a huge 2.5-metre diameter rakhi on a 150-year-old parijat tree on the campus.

'The parijat tree was chosen because it is an endangered species and there are only three of them in the zoological garden,' Singh said.

Akshat Kumar, a third year B.Tech student, said: 'Such a move needs to be applauded. In my view, such environment sensitising programmes should be launched on every festival.'