GANGTOK, OCT 3:

Sikkim is observing Wildlife Week 2026 from October 2 to 8 with a focus on human-wildlife coexistence, habitat protection and community participation in conservation, the forest and environment department said in a statement on Saturday.

The theme of this year’s Wildlife Week is ‘Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife’, it said.

Awareness and community-based programmes are being organised across the state’s seven wildlife sanctuaries and Khangchendzonga National Park in collaboration with schools, colleges, NGOs, defence and paramilitary forces, tourism stakeholders and local communities, it said.

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is the key focus of this year’s event, with the department stressing practical measures to promote safe and responsible coexistence.

The department said emerging challenges include monkey menace in urban and peri-urban areas, improper disposal of food and vegetable waste, feeding of wildlife and the increasing presence of free-ranging and feral dogs around wildlife habitats.

Through school programmes, community outreach, stakeholder meetings and awareness campaigns, the department is encouraging people not to feed wildlife, secure food and garbage, maintain clean surroundings and report wildlife-related incidents to the authorities.

The department is also encouraging students and local youth to participate as ‘Wildlife Mitras’, who can act as community-level ambassadors for awareness, responsible behaviour and early reporting of human-wildlife conflict.

“Wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility and protecting habitats requires active participation from communities, institutions and stakeholders across the state,” the department said. (Source: PTI)