Human-Wildlife Conflict and the Role of Media: Lessons from Guest Speakers at XIC
16-October-2025
By Aarushi Giria
“You can help… better the narrative”: This line summed up the essence of an engaging session held at the Xavier Institute of Communication on 16th October, where four guest speakers, Dipti Hamraskar, Nikit Surve, Virat Singh and Priya Jadhav, explored the theme of human-wildlife conflict and coexistence.
The lecture provided a thought-provoking discussion on the cohabitation of humans and animals in an increasingly urbanizing landscape. From the flamingos of Navi Mumbai to the secret leopards of Aarey Forest, the speakers brought back to students the remembrance that wildlife in Mumbai is every bit as much a part of the city as the people who live there. They urged responsible reporting and challenged the typical 'human-first' tone typically presented in media accounts of human-animal interactions.
The session also addressed how planting native plants is critical, dispelling myths around urban wildlife and learning about animal behaviour rather than sensationalizing it. From Jackie Shroff’s “Jhaad Laga” meme to witty remarks, the mood was relaxed and engaging, with humour and personal anecdotes making the two-hour interactive session fly by.
Students from the Journalism, Mass Communication and Event Planning classes were at the session, labelling it an eye-opener that changed their way of thinking regarding how stories about the environment and nature must be told. The session ended with a spirited Q&A and group photo, a good note on which to end a night that made everyone think a little more deeply about the world we live in and learning to live in peace.