Dehradun / New Delhi, Oct 8, 2025: Marking a turning point in India’s conservation story, Wildlife Week 2025 (October 2–8) saw the launch of five ambitious national wildlife projects and four monitoring initiatives, aiming to bridge the gap between ecological protection and human development.
Held under the theme “Human-Wildlife Coexistence,” this year’s Wildlife Week reflected a fundamental shift — from conventional protectionist strategies to community-led, technology-enabled conservation that integrates people and wildlife across landscapes.
Presided over by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the week’s events took place across multiple venues, with major announcements made at Dehradun and Manesar, Haryana.
A New Conservation Strategy for India
Hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with institutions like the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Forest Research Institute (FRI) and ICFRE, the Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations brought together scientists, conservationists, and policymakers from across the country.
Major Wildlife Projects Launched
1. Project Dolphin (Phase II)
Focused on safeguarding India’s river and marine dolphins from habitat degradation, pollution, and fishing net entanglement.
2. Project Sloth Bear
With India home to over 90% of the global sloth bear population, this project addresses habitat loss and rising human-bear conflicts, especially in central and eastern India.
3. Project Gharial
An action plan rolled out across seven major river systems, targeting the critically endangered gharial with a focus on habitat restoration and population monitoring.
4. Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR)
Recognizing that nearly 40% of India’s tigers live outside protected areas, this program addresses conservation in human-dominated landscapes using tech tools, conflict mapping, and community outreach.
5. Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict (SACON)
This newly established centre will serve as a national think tank for HWC mitigation, offering research, field solutions, and policy support.
Strengthening Wildlife Monitoring
Wildlife Week also underscored the importance of science-driven conservation through four new assessment programs:
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Tiger Estimation Cycle-6: The world’s largest tiger population survey, now supported by AI and biometric pattern analysis tools like ExtractCompare.
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Snow Leopard Population Study: Using cutting-edge camera traps and mobile apps in the rugged Trans-Himalayas.
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Dolphin and Cetacean Estimation (Phase II): Critical data collection synced with Project Dolphin.
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Avian Monitoring: Updates on endangered species like the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican guide habitat recovery efforts.
Addressing the Human-Wildlife Conflict
India continues to face serious human-wildlife conflict. In 2023–24, over 600 people were killed by elephants, and 82 by tigers, mainly in fringe forest communities. Loss of crops, livestock, and homes has added to the strain.
To tackle this, India is scaling up its National Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategy (2021–2026), and Wildlife Week focused on turning conflict into coexistence through:
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Early Warning Systems (EWS)
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Community response teams (‘Bagh Mitras’)
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Conflict hotspot mapping
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Compensation schemes
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Stronger legal and policy frameworks
Greening the Urban Jungle: Namo Vans and Aravalli Projects
In Haryana, the Wildlife Week also saw the foundation-laying of the ‘Namo Van’ in Manesar and the launch of an Aravalli Species Nursery.
The “Namo Van” initiative involves developing 75 urban green parks across India, while the Green Aravalli Action Plan focuses on restoring native flora across four states, including five districts in Haryana. These projects serve dual purposes — promoting biodiversity and offering urban residents a greener, healthier environment.
Funding the Future of Conservation
For 2025–26, the Central Government has significantly increased financial allocations:
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₹450 crore for wildlife habitat development
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₹290 crore (18% increase) for Project Tiger and Project Elephant
To bridge gaps in underfunded species, new projects like Gharial and Sloth Bear conservation are receiving focused support.
People at the Heart of Protection
Perhaps the most transformative shift is the emphasis on community participation:
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Local fishermen trained to prevent dolphin entanglements
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Farmers educated on safe practices in elephant corridors
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Tribals and forest dwellers engaged as frontline conservation workers
“Wildlife protection is a shared responsibility,” said Minister Bhupender Yadav. “This week symbolizes India’s move from isolated conservation to inclusive coexistence.”
Integration, Innovation, and Institutions
Wildlife Week 2025 showcased India’s collaborative conservation ecosystem, where scientific institutions, government agencies, and grassroots communities come together.
From SACON’s research, to WII’s training, and state forest departments’ field implementation, the model promotes a circular loop of research, policy, and on-ground action.
Conclusion: A Roadmap for Living Together
Wildlife Week 2025 stands as a milestone in India’s conservation journey. The focus on coexistence, not just conservation, signals an evolution — from wildlife protection to partnerships with people and nature.
By leveraging technology, community engagement, and multi-level collaboration, India is laying the groundwork for a future where humans and wildlife don’t just share space — they thrive together.
As India marches forward on its climate and biodiversity commitments, Wildlife Week 2025 reaffirms that the health of our ecosystems is inseparable from the health of our communities.