India’s Battle Against Eco-Terrorism and Global Trafficking
NEW DELHI - April22, 2025 - India’s biodiversity crisis has escalated into a national security threat, as wildlife trafficking large profits increasingly fund terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime. A new policy vision is imperative.
India, home to some of the planet’s most iconic and endangered species, is facing an escalating crisis. Wildlife trafficking is no longer just an environmental issue—now it has become a matter of national security. Criminal syndicates are targeting India's tigers, elephants, rhinos, and pangolins that are sold in black markets to fund terrorism and insurgency, often in alliance with transnational networks operating across Southeast Asia and Africa. As the line between eco-crime and terrorism blurs, India must evolve from traditional conservation to adopting counterterrorism-grade technology, intelligence, and cooperation.
April 22, 2025