Kolkata, WEST BENGAL—Today, Humane World for Animals India (formerly called Humane Society International/India) released the findings from its first-of-its-kind Compassion Index Survey, offering a data-driven look at how residents of Kolkata perceive and respond to animal welfare. Based on the responses of over 2000 residents, the survey found strong concern for animal welfare among Kolkata residents, and highlighted the opportunity to meet the gaps in awareness and knowledge to help translate compassion into informed action.
The survey found that 83% believe that people who abuse animals should be punished, while more than 80% support including animal welfare education in school curricula. A further 65% said they were willing to support animal welfare directly, pointing to a strong foundation of public concern and willingness to engage.
However, the findings also reveal a significant awareness gap. Only 11% of respondents said they knew the location and role of local animal shelters and veterinary clinics, while nearly one in four (24.24%) had no awareness of such facilities at all. This lack of information can limit people's ability to respond when animals need help.
The results were presented during a launch event, attended by members of the Department of Animal Resources Development, Government of West Bengal, bureaucrats and technocrats along with activists, members from local NGOs, and prominent voices from the Tollywood industry.
Arkaprava Bhar, senior manager, government affairs team, Humane World for Animals India, said: "The findings show us that Kolkata already has something very important—a strong foundation of compassion for animals. But it also highlights an important challenge: feeling compassion and acting on it are not always the same thing. The challenge is ensuring that people have the knowledge, information and practical tools to act on that compassion. If someone wants to help an injured animal, coexist with street animals or respond to wildlife safely, they need to know what to do and where to turn. Bridging this awareness gap can help transform concern into informed, humane action.”
This knowledge gap presents an opportunity to strengthen public awareness and access to information on animal welfare resources. Humane World for Animals India specifically works to address these gaps through capacity-building workshops and engagement with local NGOs and other community partners, helping strengthen local knowledge, networks and the ability to respond to animals in need.
The survey was conducted through in-person interviews and examined public attitudes in four areas of concern: street animals, farm animals, wildlife, and food and dietary habits. Over time, the compassion index will serve as a baseline for tracking changes in attitude and conduct.
About the survey
The Kolkata Compassion Index Survey 2025 was conducted by Humane World for Animals India through ECMARCONS Insights with analysis and reporting by Dr Vrushti Mawani. The survey covered 2,021 residents using stratified random sampling to ensure representation across age, gender, education and income groups, with data collected in Bengali, Hindi and English. The full report, including detailed demographic breakdowns and methodology, is available at https://www.humaneworld.org/sites/default/files/docs/Kolkata-Compassion-Index-Survey-Report-2025.pdf
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