Wildlife Week is marked in India every year from 2 to 8 October. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, state forest departments, zoos and conservation groups use the week to raise awareness about wildlife conservation.
This year
| Year | Dates | Week | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 to 8 October | 72nd | No national theme published by the Ministry as of (some events used “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife”) |
| 2027 | 2 to 8 October | 73rd | Not announced yet |
Why 2 October
The week starts on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In its 2023 release, the Ministry says the week is held “to coincide with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to follow his principles of Ahinsa and Compassion for all living beings”.
Recent themes
| Year | Week | Theme | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71st | Human-Wildlife coexistence | PIB, |
| 2023 | 69th | Partnerships for wildlife conservation | PIB, |
What India does in the week
- The national event: in 2025 the Union Environment Minister led the main event at the FRI campus in Dehradun on 6 October, with the Wildlife Institute of India, ICFRE, IGNFA and FRI. Five national projects were launched there, including Project Dolphin (Phase II), Project Sloth Bear, Project Gharial and a Centre of Excellence for Human–Wildlife Conflict Management, and a Tigers Outside Tiger Reserve project.
- Zoos and forest departments: zoos such as the National Zoological Park in Delhi hold talks, street plays, competitions and pledges for students. State forest departments run awareness drives and nature walks.
- In 2026: see the news below, from Odisha (Nandankanan), Manipur, Rajasthan (Kota), Andhra Pradesh (Vizag zoo) and others.
What you can do
- Visit a zoo, sanctuary or nature walk during the week; most run events for students and families.
- Report injured wild animals to the state forest department or a wildlife rescue group, and don’t try to handle them yourself. Find one in the Directory: Wildlife Rescue organisations.
- Don’t buy wildlife products (skins, ivory, shells, birds as pets): trade in protected species is an offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Read and share wildlife news and laws from the Wildlife category.
Questions and answers
Related on Animal Writes
- News (2026): Odisha: NWCSO celebrates 72nd Wildlife Week at Nandankanan; Manipur launches clouded leopard, vulture conservation projects on 72nd Wildlife Week; Tiger translocation, sanctuary expansion plans mark Wildlife Week culmination in Kota; Wildlife week at Vizag zoo
- Category: Wildlife
- Directory: Wildlife Rescue organisations
By Animal Writes
