New Delhi, March 25 -- Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday called for a comprehensive and compassionate approach to human-wildlife coexistence, stating that India's development must protect both its citizens and its natural heritage.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, he said that as a country leading global biodiversity efforts and hosting the Global Big Cat Alliance, India has a responsibility to demonstrate that growth and ecological balance can go hand in hand.

Drawing from India's civilisational ethos, Shringla recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on conservation as an integral part of the nation's culture. He said the recent death of seven elephants in Assam after being hit by a train was a stark remin...