A photo exhibition on the Nilgiris, now under way in the Horticulture Complex here as part of the 2014 Annual Summer Festival, focuses on the flora and fauna of the hilly district. Organised by the Forest Department in association with the Department of Tourism and the District Administration, the exhibition highlights the growing threat to the ecology of the district and is expected to generate considerable interest not only among the tourists but also the locals. With the rapidly escalating man-wild animal conflict in many parts of the Nilgiris becoming a major source of concern, a section has been devoted to the problem. The expo provided a piece of information that the number of wild animals being killed in accidents was more than those being wiped out by poachers. While a section features the shola-grassland eco-system of the Western Ghats, another shows how they help in keeping many rivers alive. There are also striking pictures of birds, hyenas, elephants etc. Hundreds of pictures have been put up by OSAI, the Coimbatore based environment association, and many by members of the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA). The District Forest Officer, the Nilgiris South Division, M. Badrasami, said that wild animals were guardians of the forests. The exhibition which has over the years become an integral part of the summer activities in this hill station was inaugurated by the Nilgiris Collector P.Sankar on Monday. It will go on till May 16.