changeadminIndia’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Wildlife Institute of India have launched a national hackathon for human-wildlife coexistence.
The hackathon provides a platform for young innovators, students, and NGOs to showcase innovative and practical solutions to a complex issue.
India’s rapid population growth and urbanisation are creating friction with the country’s iconic animals, such as tigers, elephants, rhinos and leopards. As a result, incidents such as crop and property damage, livestock predation, injuries, and fatalities among both people and animals are on the rise, with many wild animals being responsible for the deaths and losses in rural communities.
Therefore, it is essential to develop strategies and tolerance for coexistence, rather than separation, to prevent constant conflict, retaliation killings, habitat loss, and declines in biodiversity.
Human-wildlife coexistence is highly significant because it helps maintain ecological balance, supports the survival of globally threatened species, and sustains livelihoods for millions of people, particularly those in rural and forest-dependent communities.
Integrated approaches involving community participation, better land-use planning, effective compensation mechanisms, and habitat restoration are critical to resolving human-wildlife conflicts and ensuring sustainable coexistence.
As Change Started has written earlier, technology can play a transformative role in solving human-wildlife conflicts in India by enabling early warning systems, real-time monitoring, detection, and rapid response, thus reducing harm to both people and wildlife.
Innovations such as artificial intelligence, drones, solar-powered repellent devices, electric fencing, camera traps, and mobile apps are already being implemented to predict animal movement, alert communities, and proactively mitigate danger.
However, more is needed to foster healthy human-wildlife coexistence that goes beyond minimising conflict. India needs to support biodiversity and build resilient communities equipped with the wherewithal to share landscapes with the country’s remarkable wildlife and reap the associated ecological, social, and economic benefits.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an autonomous, internationally acclaimed institution under MoEFCC, which offers training programs, academic courses and advisory services in wildlife research and management. From creating an information dashboard for aquatic biodiversity conservation to being involved in Project Lion, WII has been at the forefront of wildlife conservation and management.
The hackathon for human-wildlife coexistence organised by WII is open to graduate and postgraduate-level students in science, technology, or related fields from recognised institutions, and youths from NGOs (similar age group). Each institution/NGO can nominate one team (3–4 participants + 1 mentor).
The focus is on four themes: Technology, Finance, Community and Species-specific solutions.
Prizes
There are cash prizes and project grants.
- ₹100,000 + ₹500,000 project grant
- ₹60,000 + ₹300,000 project grant
- ₹40,000 + ₹100,000 project grant
Consolation prizes of ₹10,000 for the other finalists
Dates
Application Process: 12 September 2025 to 20 September 2025
Screening of Applications: 21 September 2025 to 22 September 2025
Regional Rounds (online): 26 September 2025 to 27 September 2025
National Round (online): 29 September 2025 to 30 September 2025
Grand Finale (in-person): 5 Oct 2025 in New Delhi/Dehradun
Application Form
Apply here [forms.gle/r1Eho6wC8E5SKA]
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