The 71st Wildlife Week was launched in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a series of events that highlighted both ecological conservation and cultural heritage, culminating in the release of endangered Andaman Wild Pigs into the Jarawa Reserve. The week-long celebration, inaugurated at the Nature Park and Interpretation Centre, Haddo, brought together officials, students, conservationists, and members of the public, underlining the islands’ unique position as one of India’s most fragile yet vibrant ecological frontiers.
The inauguration was led by Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Chandra Bhushan Kumar, who was joined by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Sanjay Kumar Sinha. In his address, the Chief Secretary lauded the Department of Environment and Forests for its pioneering efforts in conservation, educational outreach, and community participation. He reminded the gathering that protecting biodiversity was not merely an administrative responsibility but a collective duty involving every citizen. With the islands’ flora and fauna forming a cornerstone of India’s natural heritage, their preservation, he stressed, is vital for ecological stability, cultural identity, and sustainable tourism.
The day began with a tableau and bicycle rally, both designed to spread conservation awareness. The tableau, themed on “Endemic Birds of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” celebrated the extraordinary avian diversity of the archipelago, while the rally drew spirited participation from school and college students, reflecting the growing enthusiasm of younger generations towards environmental causes.
Adding a cultural dimension to the ecological focus, the inauguration also saw the restoration and opening of the Japanese Bunker at the Nature Park. A relic from World War II, the structure has been converted into an interpretation site, offering residents and tourists alike a chance to engage with the layered history of the islands while reflecting on the importance of conserving heritage as part of a holistic approach to sustainability.
The Chief Secretary’s tour of the park included stops at the Butterfly Conservatory, where he released butterflies in a symbolic gesture of resilience and interdependence among species, as well as the Orchidarium and Fernarium, which displayed the rich floral diversity of the islands. These exhibits reinforced the archipelago’s global recognition as a biodiversity hotspot and emphasized the importance of maintaining live collections as both educational and scientific resources.
Among the new additions was the inauguration of the Mushroom Conservatory and Mushroom Rearing Centre. Promoted as the first of its kind in India, the facility showcased 37 live mushroom species found in the Andaman Islands. Officials noted that the centre would serve both scientific research and public education, introducing visitors to lesser-known aspects of the region’s ecological wealth. The Chief Secretary also visited the Butterfly Larva Rearing House, designed to educate visitors on the insect’s life cycle while highlighting conservation breeding programmes.
The Nature Park’s Aquatic Section and Medicinal Plants Garden added further depth to the exhibition. While the aquatic section displayed marine and freshwater species that illustrate the interconnectedness of the islands’ ecosystems, the medicinal garden highlighted native plants tied to traditional knowledge systems. This blending of science, culture, and tradition reflected the comprehensive approach the Administration is seeking to build into its conservation agenda.
A flagship initiative unveiled during the launch was “Mission 1 Lakh,” an ambitious campaign to collect 1,00,000 kilograms of marine waste from 100 beaches across the islands. The mission aims to address the growing problem of plastic pollution threatening fragile marine ecosystems. Officials said the campaign would involve local communities, schools, and volunteers, demonstrating the participatory nature of the Administration’s conservation strategy.
Later in the week, the Wildlife Week celebrations featured one of its most significant conservation milestones: the release of six Andaman Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa andamensis) into the Reserve Forest within the Jarawa Tribal Reserve Area. The pigs, comprising two males and four females, were bred in captivity as part of a long-term species recovery programme and reintroduced into their natural habitat to strengthen their wild population.
The Andaman Wild Pig, an endangered and endemic species of the islands, has been under continuous conservation management due to its shrinking numbers, with threats including habitat degradation and human intervention. Conservationists consider the reintroduction a vital step in restoring the species’ ecological role.
The initiative was also designed to support the Jarawa community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), by supplementing the natural food base in the reserve. Officials said the release would contribute to restoring balance in the ecosystem while sustaining the community’s traditional subsistence practices.
The release was overseen by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests M. Rajkumar, alongside officers from the Departments of Forests and Tribal Welfare. The Director of Tribal Welfare noted that the effort represented a dual achievement, contributing to wildlife conservation while supporting tribal food security. The collaboration between departments was seen as a model for integrating conservation with social welfare in sensitive ecosystems.
The Andaman Wild Pig holds symbolic and ecological importance as one of the archipelago’s most distinctive species. The Chidiyatapu Biological Park, which has been central to breeding and conserving threatened island fauna, provided the base for this reintroduction effort. The Deputy Director of the park expressed gratitude to staff and officials for coordinating the successful release.
The event was widely regarded as one of the highlights of this year’s Wildlife Week in the islands, capturing both the urgency and the potential of conservation-driven development. It was framed as part of a broader vision that seeks to preserve biodiversity while recognizing the needs of indigenous populations.
The week’s celebrations concluded with the planting of a Khatta Phal sapling at the Nature Park by the Chief Secretary. The act symbolized the Administration’s commitment to nurturing native species and creating living reminders of conservation values for future generations.
Wildlife Week, observed across India from October 2 to 8 each year, has taken on particular resonance in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where conservation is closely tied to both environmental sustainability and cultural continuity. The combination of exhibitions, heritage preservation, community initiatives, and species recovery highlighted during the week reflected the multi-dimensional approach required to safeguard the islands’ fragile ecological balance.
With events ranging from awareness drives and school competitions to high-profile conservation actions such as the release of the Andaman Wild Pigs, this year’s celebrations underscored how the Andaman and Nicobar Islands continue to serve as a living laboratory for conservation and sustainability. By intertwining ecological, cultural, and social dimensions, the 71st Wildlife Week set a benchmark for future initiatives, reaffirming the islands’ role as both a biodiversity hotspot and a model for participatory environmental stewardship.
