Amid the roar of the wild and the rustle of Ranthambore’s ancient forests, the 4th edition of the Royal Ranthambore International Tiger Week (ITW) concluded on a powerful note, bringing together conservationists, diplomats, filmmakers, and policymakers from across the globe to champion the cause of tiger and wildlife protection. Held from April 11 to 13 at the scenic Aamaghati Wildlife Resort, the event was organised by Live4Freedom, co-founded by Anand Bhardwaj, Navroze D. Dhondy, and Suneal Mangal.
The three-day conclave featured seven expert-led sessions, panel discussions, wildlife safaris, a documentary screening, and an awards ceremony honouring outstanding contributions to conservation.
Day one opened with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and welcome address by Ridansha Arora, setting the tone for a series of impactful discussions introduced by Dr. Dipankar Ghose, Senior Director at WWF India.
Key sessions at the event included “Living with the Stripes: Human-Tiger Conflict and Resolution,” where M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala, Chairperson of the Wildlife Trust of India, and conservationist Daulat Singh Shaktawat shared their insights on coexistence strategies; “Travel with a Purpose,” which explored responsible tourism through a conversation between Vikram Singh IAS, Director Tourism and Managing Director RTDC and Outlook Traveller’s Assistant Editor Kartikeya Shankar; and “Rewilding: India’s Conservation Ethos,” in which wildlife composer and conservationist Abhishek Ray spoke about his innovative work in restoring natural habitats.
Day two delved deeper into the complexities of conservation with sessions on Rajasthan’s pivotal role, anti-poaching innovations, and the power of wildlife storytelling.
In the session "Rajasthan: Crown Jewel of Tiger Conservation", former Inspector General of Forests P.S. Somasekhar and Dr. Vinod B. Mathur, former Director of the Wildlife Institute of India, spotlighted the state's leadership in conservation. The session "Through the Lens of the Wild" brought together award-winning filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu and Dinesh Durani, founder of the Sariska Tiger Foundation, who explored the growing influence of wildlife filmmaking on public awareness.
Other sessions examined the future of habitat protection and the innovations being used to combat wildlife crime. Participants included Anupam Joshi of the World Bank, Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO of WWF India, Dr. Amit Mallick, and M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala, who also received a Lifetime Achievement award.
At the heart of ITW 2025 was the ITW Awards Ceremony, which celebrated individuals and institutions making significant contributions to tiger conservation. The awards were presented in various categories, with notable recipients including:
Lifetime Achievement Award: M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala, Chairperson of the Wildlife Trust of India, for his decades-long service to environmental policy and tiger protection.
Conservationist Under 40: Debmalya Roy Chowdhury, recognised for his grassroots initiatives.
Emerging NGO: Satpuda Landscape Tiger Partnership, received by Yashvadhan Dalmia, for its on-ground conservation efforts.
Anant Bajaj Wildlife Philanthropist Award: Kairav Engineer, accepted by Mahendra Jain, for philanthropic support to wildlife causes.
Royal Ranthambore Tiger Warriors: Forest watchers Manu M.J. and Aromal M.A. from Periyar Tiger Reserve, and posthumously, Ranger Kishore Kumar of Rajsamand.
Tiger Reserve with the Largest Tiger Population: Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, received by Ravi Singh of WWF India.
Indian State with the Largest Tiger Population: Madhya Pradesh, received by Dr. Vinod B. Mathur.
Beyond the panel discussions and awards, the event featured documentary screenings, student competitions, and a community health check-up camp, ensuring that conservation messaging reached the local population as well.
As ITW 2025 concluded with a tiger safari on April 13, organiser Sunil Mangal reaffirmed the initiative’s broader mission: “Our natural world is deeply linked to our human existence. Through ITW, we aim to build a global platform for exchanging ideas, recognising challenges, and promoting sustainable wildlife tourism.”
The event was supported by Oil India (Associate Partner), and official partners included Aamaghati Resort, Museo Camera, Crategies, Outlook Traveller, Outlook Responsible Tourism, and Sariska Tiger Foundation. Radico Khaitan served as the Title Sponsor through its brand Royal Ranthambore Heritage Collection Whisky, reflecting a shared commitment to heritage and ecological preservation.
