This isn’t just bureaucratic fine print; it’s a firewall against unchecked wildlife trade. The council, chaired by former CITES chief John Scanlon and including ex-Supreme Court judge Justice Krishna Murari, isn’t just a rubber-stamp body. It’s built to say ‘no’; even to its own organization. With experts like Dr. Kushal Sarma (elephant specialist) and Greta Iori (wildlife crime fighter) on board, this could be the most powerful watchdog India’s wildlife sector has seen in years. The real story? This might be the first time a private conservation body has ceded real authority to outsiders; and that’s a big deal for trust, transparency, and ethical wildlife management. What happens next? Watch what gets approved; or denied; after June 2027. The animals won’t speak for themselves. This council will.