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Key Points

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has launched five major wildlife conservation projects during Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations. The initiatives include Project Dolphin, Project Sloth Bear, and Project Gharial to protect endangered species. He also established a Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management to develop better coexistence strategies. The minister emphasized that wildlife protection is a shared responsibility requiring innovative, community-focused approaches.

Key Points: Bhupender Yadav Launches 5 Wildlife Conservation Projects

  • Five national projects include conservation for dolphins, sloth bears and gharials
  • New Centre of Excellence established for human-wildlife conflict management
  • Minister emphasized technology-driven and community-centric conservation approaches
  • Four national action plans unveiled for species population monitoring programs
2 min read

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launches 5 projects for species conservation

Environment Minister launches Project Dolphin, Sloth Bear, Gharial conservation and Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management during Wildlife Week 2025

"Wildlife protection is not just a duty, but a shared responsibility for ensuring harmony between nature and people. - Bhupender Yadav"

New Delhi, Oct 6

As part of Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday launched five national-level projects for species conservation and conflict management.

The five projects included Implementation of Action Plan of Project Dolphin; Project Sloth Bear; Project Gharial and Tigers Outside Tiger Reserve.

Yadav also launched the project for the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management (CoE-HWC) at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History to support policy, research, and field-based mitigation of human–wildlife conflicts.

The Minister urged all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships for conservation and said, “Wildlife protection is not just a duty, but a shared responsibility for ensuring harmony between nature and people.”

Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations were organised by the Ministry, along with Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) and Forest Research Institute (FRI) at the historic Hari Singh Auditorium, IGNFA, FRI Campus, Dehradun.

This year's theme is ‘Human-Wildlife coexistence’, keeping in view the incidences of close human-wildlife interfaces over the years and to gather community support so as to enable moving from 'conflict to coexistence'.

Earlier, Yadav referred to the various nationally significant announcements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 7th National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to conserving biodiversity while ensuring coexistence between people and wildlife.

He also laid emphasis on the growing need for innovative, technology-driven and community-centric approaches to wildlife management.

The Minister also unveiled four national-level action plans and field guides for species population assessments and monitoring programmes: Second Cycle of Population Estimation of River Dolphins and Other Cetaceans; All India Tiger Estimation Cycle–6; Action Plan for the Second Cycle of Snow Leopard Population Estimation and Progress report on the Population Estimation of Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican.

The event was also attended by senior officers from the Ministry, representatives from State Forest Departments, scientists, academicians, students, and conservation professionals.

The Wildlife Week Celebrations 2025 underscored the synergy between WII, ICFRE, IGNFA, and FRI, showcasing a holistic, inter-institutional approach to wildlife conservation, research, and policy integration.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Project Dolphin and Project Gharial are excellent initiatives. Our rivers need protection too, not just forests. Good to see comprehensive approach covering aquatic species as well. 🐬
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the announcements, I hope these projects get proper funding and monitoring. Too often we see great plans announced but poor implementation. The focus on technology-driven approaches is promising though.
A
Arjun K
Human-wildlife coexistence is the need of the hour. In my village in Uttarakhand, we face regular conflicts with elephants and leopards. Hope this initiative brings practical solutions that help both humans and animals. 🐘
M
Michael C
Great to see India taking leadership in wildlife conservation! The inter-institutional approach between WII, ICFRE, IGNFA, and FRI shows comprehensive planning. Hope other countries learn from this model.
K
Kavya N
Project Sloth Bear is particularly important for central Indian states. These gentle creatures often get killed in conflicts. Hope the action plan includes awareness programs for local communities. 🐻
D
David E
The emphasis on community-centric approaches is crucial. Conservation cannot succeed without involving local people who live alongside wildlife. Good to see this recognition at policy level.

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