Research pick: How might we reconcile the culture-conservation clash? - "Ritualistic hunting in selected districts of West Bengal (India): implications on wildlife diversity and conservation"

A study in the International Journal of Global Environmental Issues has looked at “ritualistic” hunting practices in eastern India. It finds that they are contributing markedly to a worrying decline in wildlife and forest health. The work raises difficult questions about how cultural traditions can coexist with modern conservation goals.

The research focuses on Jungle Mahal, a forested region in western West Bengal, where hunting remains an integral part of religious and social life for several communities, particularly the Santhal. Ritualistic hunting, defined in the study as the killing of wild animals for ceremonial rather than commercial or subsistence purposes, is shown to be placing increasing pressure on ecosystems that are inherently vulnerable.

West Bengal hosts a range of ecologically significant species, including pangolins, fishing cats, and diverse bird populations. Such animals play crucial roles in the functioning of the ecosystems across the region. They help to regulate prey populations, disperse seeds, and recycle nutrients, among other things. The study reports a clear reduction in wildlife richness, biodiversity. It also notes a marked decline in forest density in Jungle Mahal. It is worth noting, that residents and hunters are well aware of these changes to their local environment, however, there is the paper reports, little inclinations towards matters of conservation.

Hunting in the region employs traditional techniques such as bow-and-arrow, traps, nets, and the use of smoke to flush animals from burrows. It occurs throughout the year, but intensifies during festival periods between March and June. During this period, large communal hunts with hundreds or even thousands of participants take place and huge numbers of animals are killed in a very short time.

India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 prohibits the hunting of wild animals, but the researchers found that enforcement is weak in remote forest areas. Awareness of conservation laws among local communities is limited, and illegal hunting continues unchecked. The study highlights the fact that there is great mistrust of authorities in such regions and a general perception that conservation policies are detrimental to indigenous values and livelihoods. It remains an open-ended question as to how this disconnection between culture and conservation might be remedied.

Baitalik, A., Bhattacharjee, T., Bera, D., Paladhi, A., Kar, R.R., Ojha, M., Hazra, A., Begum, M.D., Lohar, R., Karan, M. and Dandapat, R. (2025) ‘Ritualistic hunting in selected districts of West Bengal (India): implications on wildlife diversity and conservation’, Int. J. Global Environmental Issues, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.85–117.