Jaipur/Ranthambore.The two-day International Tiger Week (ITW) 2026, organised by Live4Freedom, began at Ranthambore on Friday, bringing together leading conservationists, wildlife experts, policymakers and corporate leaders to discuss the future of India's tiger landscapes, human-wildlife coexistence and sustainable conservation.
The conclave was inaugurated by Justice Dharmesh Sharma, former Judge of the Delhi High Court, who stressed the importance of safeguarding India's natural heritage through collective responsibility, balanced policymaking and greater public participation in conservation.
Delivering the keynote address, renowned wildlife conservationist Latika Nath called for a transition from species-centric conservation to ecosystem-based management. She questioned whether conservation programmes are adequately monitoring the health of ecosystems that sustain tiger populations.
"We monitor the symbol, but are we monitoring the system?" Nath said, explaining that thriving tiger populations depend on healthy prey, intact habitats and resilient ecosystems.
She emphasised that coexistence between people and wildlife must move beyond a slogan and become an integral part of development planning. Describing forests as vital infrastructure, Nath urged policymakers to recognise tiger habitats as ecological assets that provide essential environmental services.
Presenting her 'Road to Resilience' framework, Nath outlined seven key approaches to strengthen ecosystem health, improve climate resilience and ensure long-term conservation. She also highlighted successful conservation models from Bhutan and Nepal, recommending that a meaningful share of wildlife tourism revenue be reinvested in habitat restoration, community welfare and conservation programmes.
Wildlife conservationist Dr. Anish Andheria stressed the need for practical mitigation measures that enable wildlife conservation alongside rapidly expanding infrastructure such as expressways and railway corridors. He suggested replacing the term "human-wildlife conflict" with "negative human-wildlife interaction," advocating a more scientific and solution-oriented approach.
Dr. Andheria also highlighted concerns over disease management at the wildlife-livestock-human interface and said tiger conservation requires the involvement of every government institution.
"From the police to the district collector, every institution has an important role in conservation. We must move from symptomatic solutions to foundational ones," he said.
Acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu captivated delegates with rare insights into the life of Ranthambore's legendary tigress Machli through his award-winning documentary, offering a compelling visual tribute to one of India's most celebrated wild tigers.
Other speakers on the inaugural day included conservationist Abhishek Bhat and Amit Chaujar of Radico Khaitan Group, who shared their perspectives on conservation partnerships, corporate engagement and collaborative efforts to protect India's wildlife heritage.
The conclave will continue on Saturday with technical sessions on wildlife conservation, ecological resilience, habitat connectivity, responsible tourism, community participation and policy interventions for securing the future of India's tiger landscapes. The event will also honour outstanding contributions to wildlife protection through the presentation of the Wildlife Conservation Awards to individuals, journalists and organisations for their exemplary work in the field.