NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said World Wildlife Day is an occasion to celebrate the planet’s rich faunal diversity and the ecosystems it sustains. Emphasising India’s cultural ethos, he noted that our scriptures pray for the welfare of all living beings and inspire sensitivity towards wildlife along with conservation and shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam which conveys that: without forests, tigers perish; and without tigers, forests are destroyed. Therefore, the tiger protects the forest and the forest protects the tiger, underscoring the deep interdependence of nature.
The Prime Minister said the day also recognises the efforts of those working towards wildlife protection and reaffirms the commitment to conservation, sustainable practices and habitat preservation to ensure wildlife continues to thrive. Highlighting India’s biodiversity, he pointed out that the country is home to over 70 per cent of the world’s tiger population, has the largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros, and the highest number of Asiatic elephants. He added that India is the only country where the Asiatic lion thrives in the wild.
Underscoring the government’s initiatives, the Prime Minister said several measures have been undertaken for wildlife protection. These include the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance as a global platform to share best practices with partner nations. Other key efforts focus on the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, gharial and sloth bear, as well as the translocation of cheetahs.
Agencies