Wildlife Conservation Trust

When we think of charismatic mammals of the central Indian forests, we tend to think of tigers, leopards, barasingha, and gaurs. With the recent return of elephants to central India, some would add these pachyderm to the list as well. But what about wild buffaloes? Most of us associate wild buffaloes with the fauna of north-east India. Large buffalo herds roaming the grasslands of Kaziranga and Manas tiger reserves in Assam immediately roll into our imaginations. But did you know that, historically, large tracts of the Sal forests of peninsular India were also home to wild buffaloes, and that they once were an integral part of the faunal make up of this landscape? Once distributed across present day eastern Madhya Pradesh, north-eastern Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, northern Telangana, northern Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Jharkhand, these bovines were ubiquitous. Large herds of more than 100 heads were a rather common sight in Central India. But that was then. Today their entire population survives in a single landscape - Chhattisgarh's Indravati tiger reserve and the adjoining Kopela-Kolamarka forests across the border in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district. These forests also happen to be severely afflicted by armed left wing insurgency. Consequently, few outsiders can claim to have seen these shy bovine. Moreover, this has also made it difficult to arrive at reliable population estimates. However, it is believed that there may be anywhere between 40-80 animals, divided into a few small herds, that oscillate between Indravati Tiger Reserve and Kolamarka Wildlife Sanctuary. What makes the Central Indian wild buffaloes even more special is the fact that these are widely considered to have undergone little to no genetic dilution compared to their brethren in Assam. The latter are believed to have suffered some genetic dilution due to cross-breeding with domestic buffaloes. While there have been no concrete conservation interventions for these buffaloes due to their inaccessibility, a recent proposal floated by Maharashtra aims to begin captive conservation breeding of these buffaloes by capturing some individuals from Kolamarka. Text by: Raza Kazmi Video Credit: Chhattisgarh Forest Department/IBC 24 #Wildlife #ConservationInIndia #Information #ConservationInformation #India #WildlifeConservationTrust #wctindia

Our forensics expert and senior trainer, C. Samyukta, was in Fiji representing WCT at the Indo Pacific Environmental Security Forum (IPESF) 2024 organised by the US Indo Pacific Command, on August 6-9. The forum brings together experts from across the Indo-Pacific region serving in the government, NGOs, and research organisations to deliberate on various aspects of environmental security, including renewable energies, blue economy, waste management, disaster response, climate action, and wildlife crime. This year's sessions focused on new tech tools that could help identify and mitigate risk factors and on the use of better governance to combat current and emerging risks. WCT participated at the forum as a facilitator at the workshop on wildlife trafficking led by UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Through an interactive case study model, participants deliberated over mapping of trade routes used by traffickers for highly traded wild species, and enforcement actions that would be needed to detect, deter, and disrupt illegal wildlife trade networks in real time. Samyukta also presented a poster on WCT's Combating Wildlife Crime Programme and our learnings through this multi-stakeholder engagement and capacity building project. WCT looks forward to bringing the learnings from this forum to India and using it as a springboard to create greater climate awareness and action in the country. Images by Samyukta Chemudupati /WCT Poster design by Purva Variyar /WCT #ipesf #wildlifecrime #wildlifeconservation #unitednations #fiji #wildlifeconservationtrust #wctindia #climatechange

Otter (ऑटर)! आप सभी ने कभी न कभी इस अनूठे जीव के बारे में सुना या पढ़ा होगा, या फिर इनकी कोई तस्वीर या वीडियो कहीं न कहीं देखी होगी। ये चंचल अर्ध-जलीय स्तनपायी दुनिया भर के खारे और मीठे पानी के जलस्रोतों में पाए जाते हैं, और नदियों, जलाशयों एवं समुद्रों के स्वास्थय का सूचक हैं। हिन्दी में ऑटर को आमतौर पर "ऊदबिलाव" के नाम से जाना जाता है। अमूमन हिन्दुस्तानी (हिन्दी और उर्दू) में कई जानवरों के नाम उनके व्यावहारिक जीवन पर प्रकाश डालते हैं और ऊदबिलाव इसका एक अच्छा उदाहरण है। इसका नाम दो शब्दों के मेल से बना है – "ऊद" और "बिलाव"। ऊद शब्द का मूल संस्कृत के दो शब्दों से जोड़ा जा सकता है - उदम् = जल, या उद्र = गीला। वहीं खड़ी बोली में बिल्ली को "बिलाव" कहा जाता है। अतः ऊदबिलाव का अर्थ हुआ "पानी की बिल्ली" या "गीली बिल्ली"। संभवतः ये नामकरण ऊदबिलाव के हाव-भाव और व्यवहार को देख कर रखा गया होगा – जैसे बिल्ली ज़मीन पर छोटे जानवरों का शिकार करती है ठीक उसी तरह ऊदबिलाव अपना काफी समय पानी में बिल्ली के समान ही जलीय जीवों का शिकार करने में बिताता है। अब शायद आप में से कुछ लोग ये कहें की मुझे तो ऊदबिलाव की शकल और हरकतें बिल्ली से कम और कुत्ते से अधिक मिलती-जुलती लगती हैं। यदि ऐसा है तो आप अकेले नहीं है। शायद इसी कारणवश झारखंड और छत्तीसगढ़ के कुछ आदिवासी समूहों में ऑटर को ऊदबिलाव नहीं बल्कि "पनकुत्ता" कहा जाता है (पन = पानी)! ख़ैर, अब ये तो बात हुई स्थानीय नामों की, लेकिन वैज्ञानिक वर्गीकरण के अनुसार विश्वभर के सभी ऊदबिलाव Lutra वंश के अंतर्गत आते हैं। दुनिया में इनकी 13 प्रजातियाँ पाई जाती हैं, और हमारे भारत में इनकी 3 प्रजातियाँ मिलती हैं -- Eurasian Otter (यूरेशीयाई ऊदबिलाव), Asian small-clawed otter ( एशियाई छोटे-नाखून वाला ऊदबिलाव) और smooth-coated otter (चिकनी/मुलायम-खाल वाला ऊदबिलाव)। हालांकि भारत में इन तीनों ही प्रजातियों पर बहुत कम शोध हुआ है, परंतु इनमें भी बस कुछ ही वर्ष पहले तक यूरेशीयाई ऊदबिलाव के बारे में तो हमारी जानकारी लगभग ना के बराबर थी। स्तिथि ये थी की हालांकि ब्रिटिश-कालीन प्राकृतिक इतिहासकारों और शोधकर्ताओं ने भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप में यूरेशीयाई ऊदबिलावों के अस्तित्व का ज़िक्र अपने लेखों में किया था, परंतु कोई भी भारत से यूरेशीयाई ऊदबिलाव की तस्वीर प्रस्तुत नहीं कर पाया था। लेकिन फिर आई मध्य प्रदेश के सतपुड़ा बाघ अभयारण्य में 2015 के दिसम्बर की एक कड़कड़ाती ठंडी रात, और सतपुड़ा में कार्यरत WCT के शोधकर्ताओं ने अपने एक कैमरा-ट्रैप में कुछ ऐसा देखा जिसने सबके होश उड़ा दिए! क्या हुआ था उस रोज़? कैसे WCT के उन्न शोधकर्ताओं ने भारतीय ऊदबिलावों के शोध में एक नए अध्याय की शुरुआत की? ये सब, और बहुत कुछ और, जानेंगे अगले पोस्ट में। Text by Raza Kazmi Illustration by Akshaya Zachariah #Wildlife #Otters #WildlifeConservationTrust #wctindia #Hindi #HindiContent #Conservation #ConservationInIndia

The application to WCT-BEES Grants 2024-25 is now closed. We are no longer accepting applications for this year. Thank you to all the researchers and grassroots conservationists who applied. We are very excited to evaluate all the proposals. Our grant awardees will be announced soon! Watch this space for more. #SmallGrants #WCTBEESGrants #WildlifeConservationTrust #wctindia

#Deadline alert. WCT-BEES Grants application to close soon! We are inviting applications to the WCT-Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Endangered Species Grants Programme (WCT-BEES Grants) for 2024-25. The WCT-BEES Grants Programme offers two types of grants– I) Wildlife Research Small Grant II) Grassroots Conservation Small Grant Both these grants have been curated to provide funding support to Indian wildlife researchers, grassroots conservationists and conservation organisations. The WCT-BEES Grants will support work on endangered species and/or landscapes of exceptional biodiversity value. Log on to https://lnkd.in/f9ue29J to learn more about WCT-BEES Grants. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at smallgrants@wctindia.org in case of any queries. Last date to apply is August 10, 2024. #SmallGrants #WCTBEESGrants #WildlifeConservationTrust #wctindia

#NewPaperAlert! Among the surplus threats the endangered Ganges river dolphin faces, entanglement in fishing nets is a major cause for concern. Despite being accorded the highest level of protection in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, the Ganges river dolphins caught in nets as bycatch are often killed for their oil. The river dolphin oil is commonly used as bait by many fishers in India and Bangladesh to catch Clupisoma garua, a species of catfish widely found in large rivers of the Indian subcontinent. Dolphin oil is rampantly traded in black markets. But law enforcement is weak and evidence difficult to collect as the molecular analyses required to confirm the use of dolphin oil are expensive and time intensive. Simpler, low-cost detection methods are therefore needed to help improve enforcement. WCT’s river ecologists have successfully developed a new visual method to help identify the occurrence of dolphin oil use for catching Clupisoma garua. In a breakthrough study recently published in the ‘Whaling Commission’s Journal of Cetacean Research and Management’, Dr. Nachiket Kelkar and Subhasis Dey present a new visual test to detect illegal dolphin oil use based on Clupisoma fish catches. This study was supported by Duleep Matthai Nature Conservation Trust, DOLPHIN QUEST and BNP Paribas. Read the scientific paper titled ‘A new method to detect illegal oil use and estimate mortality rates of endangered Ganges river dolphins based on Clupisoma fish catches’ by Kelkar and Dey here - https://lnkd.in/dN5VMGZi Illustrations by Akshaya Elizabeth Zachariah #gangesriverdolphin #sciencepaper #dolphin #dolphinoil #conservationproject #wildlifeconservationtrust #wctindia

For sustainable impact, we believe in developing and using novel technological applications and tools for monitoring. Such endeavours can lead to low-cost, replicable, and scalable methods for state wildlife conservation agencies to adapt and implement. With this approach, WCT, in association with Human & Environment Alliance League (HEAL), held field demonstrations and workshops for senior forest officials of the West Bengal Forest Department between July 19 and 25. The field demonstrations were focused on innovative methods to detect, prevent, and minimise the illegal use and trade of Ganges river dolphin oil in West Bengal. The WCT team demonstrated innovative visual detection methods for fish catches harvested with dolphin oil use, chemical testing methods to detect Ganges river dolphin oil from other substances, and the use of sniffer dogs in dolphin oil detection in the field. Forest officials were also introduced to ‘boatBAITS’, a buzzer-alarm device developed by WCT to alert fishers when they enter eco-sensitive areas, thereby minimising entanglement of dolphins in fishing nets. The programmes were held in Sajnekhali, Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR), Adina Deer Park (Malda Forest Division), and Berhampore South Range, Nadia-Murshidabad Forest Division. Senior forest officials including Shri. Debal Ray (IFS), PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden, West Bengal Forest Department, Shri. Rajendra Jakhar (IFS), Field Director - STR, Shri. Justin Jones (IFS), Deputy Director, STR, Shri Jiju Jaesper J. (IFS), DFO, Malda Division, and RFOs of the Malda and Nadia-Murshidabad Divisions, also attended the events, among others. WCT’s Riverine Ecosystems And Livelihoods (REAL) programme is supported by DOLPHIN QUEST, BNP Paribas, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Foundation, and Duleep Matthai Nature Conservation Trust. Images: Allen Jacob/WCT #westbengal #gangesriverdolphin #dolphinoil #forestguards #wildlife #wildlifeconservationtrust #wctindia Nachiket Kelkar

Forest staff wear many hats, and one of them is law enforcement. They are required to prevent, detect and investigate crimes against wildlife, and build strong cases against the offenders to ensure conviction. To help them get better at administering their role, WCT has been training frontline forest staff across various states in the country since 2012. Over the years, the training modules have evolved to also include evidence collection, site security, and the application of forensics to build watertight cases. Now, all that knowledge has been turned into something that forest staff can carry in their backpacks. The ‘Illustrated Wildlife Crime Investigation Manual for Forest Guards’, produced by WCT, with support from DSP Finance Pvt. Ltd. (formerly DSP Investment Managers Pvt. Ltd.), is like a law enforcement field guide for India’s forest staff. Intended to be used as a ready reckoner by forest staff when dealing with cases of wildlife crime, it presents the law with minimum jargon and illustrations for effective visual learning and easy recall. In addition, it also explains the processes of filing a case and prosecuting a wildlife crime step-by-step. To know more, visit the link in below- https://lnkd.in/dcfrqxXt Illustrated manual designed by @elzac_18 #WorldRangerDay #RangerDay #RangerDay2024 #WildlifeCrimeManual #ForestGuards #forensicscience #wildlifecrimeinvestigation #wildlifeconservationtrust #wctindia

This #InternationalTigerDay, we're working towards coexistence between humans and tigers by resolving problems before they explode, as our partner Anish Andheria of Wildlife Conservation Trust says. Together, we can help tigers and people thrive together!

The return of Tigers  🐅 🌳 In India, in the last 20 years, the number of Bengal tigers has more than doubled thanks to rewilders restoring their habitat and rewilding tiger corridors! 💚 Tigers are... 🐯 Keystone species; their role maintains healthy ecosystems as their presence impacts prey, in turn supporting plant life and an ecosystem-wide balance. 🐞 Biodiversity heroes; their presence supports a huge array of species. ⬇ Climate ambassadors; protection of their habitats helps store vast amounts of carbon. Habitat restoration is at the heart of tiger conservation efforts - that means more native forest, connected corridors and wild spaces are maintained as carbon stores. 🕊 Peacekeepers; as people around the world restore their healthy habitats, there is less human-wildlife conflict. A healthy tiger doesn’t want to leave an abundant native forest!  💚 Symbolic; people around the world feel their presence is intertwined with their cultural heritage, spirituality, and tigers themselves as core to community. This #tigerday, we celebrate the work of The Corbett Foundation (TCF) that works in four important tiger reserves across India, and a crucial part of their work is to create and expand connecting corridors. Work from TCF, and other alliance partners, have helped tiger numbers in India to increase by almost 2.5 times. The most recent governmental survey counted a total of 3,682 in 2022. Tiger conservation is more than protecting tigers - it restores forest and river ecosystems that support a huge amount of life, as well as playing a key role in climate regulation. An inspiring fact from Wildlife Conservation Trust is that between 2007-2020, tiger protection efforts in India prevented a loss of forests, curbing carbon emissions equivalent to 1.08 million metric tonnes of CO2!! That’s a lot! ⬇ Their work safeguards unique ecosystems that are home to an array of beautiful species, while reducing human-wildlife conflict. Healthy habitats can support increasing wild tiger populations. They can provide the essential food, water, and shelter required by the wildlife, reducing the tigers need to venture into areas inhabited by humans. Rewilding these habitats is crucial for both wildlife and humans. 💡 FUN FACT: Tigers have unique stripes, much alike to human fingerprints. 🖐 🐾 Image Credits: Images freely available on Open Planet. Silverback Films. This footage is of a rare and beautiful Bengal tiger filmed in Bandhavgarh National Park. The Corbett Foundation (TCF) works to restore the habitat, rewild tigers and connect reserves including Bandhavgarh 🐯 Get to know The Corbett Foundation: https://lnkd.in/g9F9tzQQ #internationaltigerday #generationrestoration #globaltigerday