(April 19, 2024) The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.  Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India 1. Mizoram’s State Excise and Narcotics Department seized 98 kg of pangolin scales at a checkpoint in Vairengte, Kolasib District, Mizoram. The accused who was driving a cab from Shillong to Aizawl was from Assam’s Cachar District. The contraband was passed on as smoked pork. Link 1, Link 2,  Link 3 2....

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(April 19, 2024) Kyasanur Forest Disease: A ticking health bomb in the Western Ghats | Mongabay Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick-borne illness that poses a significant threat in the Malenadu region of Karnataka and neighbouring states along the Western Ghats due to conducive environmental conditions and human activities like deforestation. The withdrawal of KFD vaccine as the primary defence against the disease has left residents and health workers vulnerable to its spread, exacerbating the urgency of ...

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(April 12, 2024) Delhi forest dept to create SOP to tackle leopards in urban spaces | Hindustan Times  The Delhi Forest Department plans to establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) to manage leopard encounters in urban areas after an incident in Jagatpur. They plan to conduct sensitisation programs across Delhi, starting with training for forest staff. The aim is to educate locals in identifying leopards and appropriate measures to take, emphasising the dangers of provoking or attacking them to pre...

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(April 05, 2024) Dr. Aaron Savio Lobo and Dr. Avadhoot Velankar from WCS-India's Marine Programme participated in the national consultative workshop on the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME Phase 2) project held in Chennai from 21st to 23rd March 2024. It was jointly organised by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) and IUCN, and supported by GOI, FAO, GEF, and NORAD.  Over 80 stakeholders from various government units and NGOs came together to share i...

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(April 05, 2024) Walls come down to make way for elephants | Mongabay Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL) is demolishing its boundary wall in Deopahar, Assam following a Gauhati High Court order to restore an elephant corridor. The wall's obstruction has sparked a decade-long legal battle, with environmental activists like Rohit Choudhury advocating for its removal. The victory is hailed as a significant win for wildlife conservation, allowing free movement for elephants and preserving the biodiversity of the ...

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