Bhubaneswar, 9 October 2025 – The Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha, in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, officially launched the Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK) today during the Valedictory Ceremony of National Wildlife Week 2025 in Bhubaneswar.

The launch event was graced by the presence of Dr. Kambhampati Hari Babu, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, alongside Shri Satyabrata Sahu, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest & Environment Department, Shri Suresh Pant, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), and Shri Prem Kumar Jha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (CWLW). The gathering also included senior policymakers, forest officials, scientists, and conservationists from across India.

Dr. Kambhampati Hari Babu, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, launched HAWK in the presence of senior policymakers, forest officials, scientists, and conservationists| Photo by Team WTI

HAWK is an advanced, India-developed conservation technology platform designed to combat forest and wildlife crimes. It integrates real-time data analytics, artificial intelligence, and centralised intelligence to support enforcement agencies and frontline forest staff. By streamlining documentation, enhancing decision-making, and enabling proactive responses, HAWK empowers teams to tackle illegal wildlife trade and poaching more effectively.

The platform offers robust features such as centralised data management, real-time case tracking, offender profiling, and hotspot prediction. These capabilities address longstanding challenges like fragmented records and delayed investigations, enabling swift and strategic action on the ground.

Already operational in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, the adoption of HAWK by Odisha marks a significant leap in modernising wildlife protection efforts. It strengthens inter-agency coordination and reinforces Odisha’s commitment to building a tech-enabled, intelligence-led approach to conservation enforcement.

Shri. Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Hon’ble Minister of Forest, Environment & Climate Change Dept., Govt. of Odisha, emphasised that it was the need of the hour to introduce more technological solutions such as HAWK for wildlife protection.

Shri Prem Kumar Jha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (CWLW), announced that the Odisha Forest Department is launching HAWK as the state’s official Wildlife Offence Management Tool to strengthen wildlife protection and enforcement efforts.

Gauri Bahulkar, Senior Director, Global Corporate Social Responsibility, NTT DATA, said, “The launch of HAWK in Odisha is a proud milestone in our journey to harness technology for environmental protection. We believe digital innovation can be a powerful force for good. By equipping forest departments with intelligent tools like HAWK, we’re not only enhancing operational efficiency but also strengthening India’s fight against wildlife crime. We are excited to see Odisha join this transformative movement and remain committed to scaling this impact across the country.”

Jose Louies, CEO, WTI, said, “We initiated the development of HAWK, as there are no such systems present to manage information on wildlife crime and related criminal activities. The software tracks every stage—from detection to prosecution—making the entire process more efficient. We’re grateful to the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department and NTT DATA for their support of this important initiative.”