Animals and wildlife

The persistence of illegal hunting and trade underscores a tension between traditional practices, economic necessity, and modern conservation imperatives.

The Sundarbans is not just a UNESCO World Heritage site or a tiger sanctuary – it is a living landscape where humans and wildlife have long coexisted, often at great cost.

Traffickers remain adaptable and profit-driven. Yet for the first time in years, the region’s enforcement community is not merely reacting – it is organising, training and collaborating at a scale designed to outpace the criminals.

To harness AI’s full potential, the ORF recommends four priority actions.

Without urgent shifts, the ledger of human suffering will continue to grow alongside the tiger population.

Sundarbans honey has also attracted global interest. Earlier efforts secured geographical indication (GI) recognition, highlighting its distinct origin and traditional knowledge.

According to PIB, India’s submission marks not just compliance but a strategic advancement in biodiversity governance – the country is demonstrating that conservation and economic development can go hand in hand when guided by principles of equity and sustainability.

The stray dog population remains high in many areas, and vaccinating a sufficient percentage of these free-roaming animals to achieve “herd immunity” is logistically difficult.