Gaurav Paswan
Urban Wildlife
This white paper examines the growing challenge of human–monkey conflict in Delhi, focusing on how rapid urbanisation, habitat loss, waste management, human feeding practices, and changing patterns of land use have reshaped interactions between people and rhesus macaques. Using a mixed-method approach, the study combines secondary research with interviews, field observations, and a survey of 90 respondents, largely from the University of Delhi community.
The paper documents everyday experiences such as food snatching, property damage, bites, and monkeys entering homes and educational spaces, while also examining the consequences of conflict for the animals themselves. Its survey findings indicate considerable public support for coexistence-based approaches, habitat conservation, and awareness programmes rather than purely reactive measures. The paper ultimately argues for an integrated strategy combining scientific wildlife management, ecological restoration, improved waste management, safer urban infrastructure, and public education to promote sustainable coexistence between humans and urban wildlife.
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Namish Akhtar
Captivity & Wildlife Law
This white paper examines animal captivity through the interconnected lenses of sentience, autonomy, welfare, biodiversity, and law, with particular attention to birds, ornamental fish, and the growing exotic pet trade. It explores how confinement can restrict animals’ natural behaviours and social needs, while also examining the wider consequences of wildlife capture and trade for biodiversity and public health.
Combining scientific and legal literature with field observations of captive animals, the paper highlights concerns around inadequate housing, psychological stress, wildlife trafficking, and gaps in enforcement. It also evaluates India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and related regulatory frameworks. Ultimately, the paper calls for a shift away from viewing animals as possessions towards systems of care and regulation that recognise their intrinsic value, sentience, and behavioural needs.
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Sanaya Manglic
Dairy & Poultry
This white paper examines key animal welfare, environmental, legal, and public-health concerns within India’s dairy and poultry industries. Drawing on field observations, legal frameworks, and existing research, it highlights practices such as intensive confinement, artificial insemination, debeaking, forced moulting, antibiotic use, and poor waste management, alongside their wider impacts on animal suffering, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic disease, and pollution.
The paper also explores gaps between existing legal protections and their enforcement. It concludes by calling for stronger regulation, greater accountability, improved public awareness, and reforms that recognise animal welfare as closely linked with environmental sustainability and public health.
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Rajkumar Verma
Working Animals & Tourism
This white paper examines the realities of animal rides in India, focusing on the physical and psychological welfare of elephants, camels, horses, ponies, and other animals used for tourism, ceremonial events, and recreational rides. It explores issues such as overwork, inadequate veterinary care, poor housing, harmful training methods, and the use of force, while also assessing the legal and ethical concerns surrounding the commercial use of animals for entertainment.
Drawing on research, field observations, surveys, and interviews with animal owners and handlers, the paper highlights gaps in enforcement and animal-care practices. It recommends a gradual transition toward humane, animal-free alternatives such as e-carriages and mechanical animals, alongside stronger regulation, public awareness, humane education, and livelihood support for communities currently dependent on animal-based tourism.
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Parth M.
Street Dogs & Rabies Prevention
This white paper examines India’s street dog issue through the interconnected lenses of animal welfare, public health, urban management, and law. It explores the causes behind growing street dog populations, challenges faced by both dogs and communities, rabies prevention, breeding and abandonment, and India’s existing legal framework.
The paper advocates for humane, evidence-based solutions centred on sterilisation, mass anti-rabies vaccination, responsible ownership, effective law enforcement, public awareness, and compassionate coexistence.
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Ragini Saxena
Research Ethics
This white paper explores the complex issue of animal experimentation in India, examining it through the lenses of ethics, regulation, scientific practice, and animal rights advocacy. The study analyzes India's legal framework governing animal research, the challenges of enforcing existing protections, the availability of non-animal alternatives, and the role of public awareness in driving change.
Drawing on field observations, research, and community engagement, the paper highlights gaps between policy and practice while offering recommendations to promote transparency, accountability, and humane scientific advancement. It invites readers to reflect on the ethical responsibilities of research institutions and the steps needed to reduce animal suffering in the pursuit of scientific progress.
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