Conservation bioacoustics: India is urged to build a national center for the emerging science of listening to nature, a move that could transform wildlife monitoring and prevent human-animal conflict. The call came from Rohini Nilekani, who highlighted the technology’s potential during a recent discussion in Delhi spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati. The field, which uses sound to study ecosystems, is rapidly gaining global traction, with experts like Cornell University’s Lea Bouffaut demonstrating that undersea fiberoptic cables can be repurposed to listen to whale calls and prevent ship collisions.
In India, conservation bioacoustics offers a cost-effective complement to camera traps, which currently dominate monitoring efforts. Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) can map dense forests and coral reefs, while real-time sound analysis can help track bird populations, as seen with the Merlin app which recorded 1.36 billion bird sounds in 2025. More critically, the science offers early warning systems for conflicts, detecting elephant trumpets or tiger roars to alert communities and prevent crop loss, which exceeds ₹10,000 crore annually in Maharashtra alone. It could also help mitigate the 6,337 bird-hit incidents at Indian airports over the past five years.
The application of conservation bioacoustics extends beyond animals; it can help researchers “listen” to stressed plants emitting ultrasonic clicks. To make this vision a reality, Nilekani suggests leveraging unused CAMPA funds and building indigenous manufacturing capacity through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. This strategic investment would aid India in meeting its international biodiversity commitments under the Kunming-Montreal framework.
Ultimately, adopting conservation bioacoustics is a critical step for India to monitor its biodiversity, which is its strategic advantage. As the ancient saying goes, “Vriksho rakshati rakshitah,” nature protects those who protect it. By listening anew to the heartbeat of its flora and fauna, India can move from simply seeing its wildlife to truly hearing it, enabling a deeper, more protective relationship.