08-10-2026:Address by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand Closing Ceremony of Wildlife Week 2026

Address by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand

Closing Ceremony of Wildlife Week 2026

(Date: October 08, 2026)

Jai Hind!

Distinguished guests on the dais, wildlife experts, scientists, senior officers of the Forest Department, our forest guards and frontline forest personnel, nature lovers, representatives of voluntary organisations, my dear children, and young friends!

On the land of India, nature has never been merely the foundation of our existence; it has always been an integral part of our consciousness and culture. Our sages experienced the same universal consciousness in the sky, air, fire, water and earth that we experience within ourselves. This is why, in India, rivers became mothers, mountains became sacred, trees became objects of reverence, and compassion towards animals and birds became an integral part of our way of life.

Our prayer has always been:

“Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah;
Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu, Ma Kashchid-Duhkha-Bhag-Bhavet.”

May all be happy, may all be free from illness;
May all see what is auspicious, and may no one suffer.

This sentiment is not limited to the welfare of human beings. In the Indian philosophical tradition, the spirit of ‘Sarve’ encompasses the welfare of all living beings. This broader vision of universal well-being became the foundation of ahimsa, compassion and coexistence in our way of life.

That is why our sages proclaimed:

“Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah” — Non-violence is the highest dharma.

Today, as we come together to mark the closing of Wildlife Week 2026, we must renew our resolve to connect this timeless wisdom with modern science and a new vision of development.

I am pleased that this year’s theme is “Connecting Habitats, Thriving Wildlife.” This is not merely a theme; it is a message that provides direction to the entire philosophy of wildlife conservation.

It is not enough to protect wildlife only within the boundaries of protected areas. A tiger needs a healthy forest. An elephant needs its traditional movement routes. Birds need a safe sky. Wildlife needs clean water. And, most importantly, animals need connected habitats and secure corridors for their natural movement.

If habitats are fragmented, corridors are fragmented. If corridors are disrupted, the natural behaviour of wildlife is affected. And when the ecological balance is disturbed, its consequences ultimately reach human beings as well.

Therefore, wildlife conservation is not merely the conservation of wildlife; it is the conservation of humanity’s future.

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has consistently emphasised the need to maintain a balance between development and the environment. His clear vision has been that economy and ecology are not competing ideas; they can and must progress together. Uttarakhand can become a living laboratory of this balance.

The Delhi–Dehradun Green Expressway is an important example before us. According to studies by the Wildlife Institute of India, the elevated green corridor near Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Shivalik Forest Division has enabled the movement of various species of wildlife to continue without significant obstruction. This demonstrates that when development projects are designed with an understanding of nature and guided by scientific principles, development and wildlife conservation can move forward together.

Similarly, elephant corridors such as Motichur, Teenpani and Laltappar are not merely lines drawn on a map. They are natural routes through which generations of elephants have travelled. Protecting and strengthening these corridors must remain one of our important priorities.

Closely linked to this is the extremely sensitive issue of human-wildlife conflict.

The Government of Uttarakhand’s decision to recognise human-wildlife conflict as a disaster and to constitute district-level Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation and Management Committees on 25 September is an important step. Through coordination among different departments, we can ensure faster assistance during emergencies, timely relief and compensation for affected families, and more effective measures to prevent such conflicts in the future.

Our objective is neither to create a negative perception towards wildlife nor to overlook the pain of rural families who have paid the price of such conflicts. Our goal must be to create a balance in which both human beings and wildlife remain safe.

I am pleased that 18 citizens and children who demonstrated courage and sensitivity during wildlife conflict situations have been honoured today. The honouring of these courageous citizens by the Hon’ble Chief Minister is an inspiration for the entire society.

It reminds us that wildlife conservation is not merely the responsibility of the Forest Department; it is a collective responsibility of the entire society.

Science is also playing an important role in this journey.

The fourth decadal biodiversity survey of the Nanda Devi region has provided evidence of rare fauna at an altitude of nearly 4,200 metres, along with a rich diversity of rare lichen species. These findings are a testament to the extraordinary biological wealth of our Himalayas.

Technologies such as camera traps, remote sensing, geospatial mapping, artificial intelligence and modern data analytics can greatly assist us in understanding wildlife behaviour, movement patterns and habitats.

But I would like to make one point particularly clear:

Technology can help us understand nature, but sensitivity towards nature comes from our values and संस्कार. The greatest strength of conservation is not the machine; it is human compassion.

On this occasion, we have also honoured railway locomotive pilots whose alertness helped save the lives of wildlife. The use of insulated covered conductors by the Electricity Department in forest areas is another important initiative to protect birds and wildlife from electrical accidents.

When administration, science, technology and society come together, conservation becomes a people’s movement.

During Wildlife Week, activities such as photo exhibitions, cleanliness drives, motorcycle and cycle rallies, and e-pledges have strengthened this spirit of public participation.

I would like this spirit to continue beyond Wildlife Week. Wildlife conservation must not remain a one-week campaign; it must become a way of life.

My young friends,

You are not merely the future of our country; you are also the guardians of nature today.

As you leave your schools, colleges and universities, take a pledge that you will not pollute water sources, that you will respect forests, that you will not disturb wildlife, and that you will encourage those around you to become more sensitive towards nature.

Along with becoming guardians of nature, I also expect you to stay away from drugs and set an example of a healthy and positive life. Inspire your friends and fellow young people to choose a drug-free life.

Healthy youth create a healthy society and a healthy environment.

We must understand that climate change, forest fires, changing weather patterns, pressure on water sources and unplanned human activities are not merely environmental problems. They are challenges directly connected with our survival.

Therefore, our goal should not be merely to save the tiger.

We must save the tiger’s forest.
We must save the elephant’s corridor.
We must save the birds’ sky.
We must protect the flow of our rivers.
We must protect the biodiversity of the Himalayas.
And ultimately, we must preserve the relationship of trust between human beings and nature that has been the hallmark of our civilisation.

The following Sanskrit Subhashita, shared by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on the occasion of World Wildlife Day, is particularly relevant today:

“Nirvano Vadhyate Vyaghro, Nirvyaghraṁ Chidyate Vanam;
Tasmad Vyaghro Vanam Rakshed, Vanam Vyaghram Cha Palayet.”

It means:

Without the forest, the tiger perishes; without the tiger, the forest begins to perish. Therefore, the tiger protects the forest, and the forest protects the tiger.

This is not merely the story of the tiger and the forest. It is the story of the entire planet.

Nature nurtures us, and it is our responsibility to nurture nature.

As we conclude Wildlife Week today, let us resolve that we will not allow this week to become merely another date on the calendar. Let us make it a culture of our lives.

If nature is safe, wildlife will be safe.
If wildlife is safe, the Himalayas will be safe.
If the Himalayas are safe, our rivers will be safe.
And if our rivers are safe, the future of our coming generations will be safe.

We must build Uttarakhand into a state where the roads of development move forward, but the pathways of wildlife are not blocked; where tourism grows, but does not place an unnecessary burden on nature; where cities develop, but the forests continue to breathe; and where human beings prosper, while the entire living world around them also flourishes.

This is the essence of our Indian civilisational outlook.

This is the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family.

And this must be the resolve of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Forest Department, all concerned departments, scientists, experts, forest personnel, local communities, voluntary organisations, children and young people for the successful organisation of Wildlife Week 2026.

Let us build an Uttarakhand where development and nature are not competitors, but companions on the same journey.

Let us save our forests.
Let us conserve our water.
Let us protect our biodiversity.
Let us protect our wildlife.
And let us preserve our relationship with nature.

With this spirit, I extend my heartfelt greetings to everyone on the occasion of Wildlife Week 2026 and conclude my address.

Jai Hind!
Jai Uttarakhand!
Vande Mataram!