(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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(March 22, 2024) Arunachal tribe donates land for critically endangered songbird Bugun Liocichla | Deccan Herald Buguns, a tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh, donated 1,470 hectares of forest land to the state forest department to protect the critically endangered Bugun Liocichla. With only 14 individuals spotted, conservation efforts are critical. This effort marks a significant step towards protecting this unique species and promoting tourism.   Wildcats found in India gain international conse...

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(March 15, 2024) Rehabilitating trafficked star tortoises using genetic intelligence | Mongabay Recent research reveals two genetically distinct populations of Indian star tortoises, challenging previous assumptions and indicating moderate to high genetic diversity. This insight can guide rehabilitation efforts by releasing trafficked tortoises into habitats where they are genetically suited, enhancing their chances of survival.  Human-wildlife conflicts: Karnataka, Kerala ink pact | Hindustan Times...

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(March 14, 2024) Dr. Aaron Savio Lobo, Head of the Marine programme at WCS-India participated in the WCS Global Shark Conservation Meet held in Belize between 26 February – 1 March 2024. He presented the overall strategy of the marine programme in India and provided an update on the programme´s shark and ray work in India. Approximately 50 participants attended the meeting, including WCS marine representatives, global marine directors, partner NGOs, and the IUCN SCC Shark Specialist Group Chai...

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(March 08, 2024) North Bengal comes together to protect Hornbill species | The Statesman  North Bengal organised a three-day workshop with participants from the region and neighbouring areas to create a conservation plan for five hornbill species, three of them globally threatened. The plan includes strategies for population surveys, habitat protection, community involvement, and awareness initiatives, uniting officials, scientists, and community members to address the vulnerability of hornbills in the a...

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(March 01, 2024) India, four other nations plan coordinated crackdown on wildlife traffickers using Interpol channels | The Hindu India, along with Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, is uniting to combat wildlife trafficking by sharing intelligence on traffickers and disrupting financial flows. The focus is on air cargo routes from Africa to Southeast Asia, with over 50 wildlife seizures reported in India in 2022. The collaboration aims to coordinate actions and enhance Interpol capabilities again...

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(February 29, 2024) Dr. Vishnupriya Sankararaman, along with the WCS-India Communications team, conducted a workshop on “Ecology and Science Communication in India” at Christ University, Central Campus - Bengaluru, on 24th January 2024. The workshop was aimed at providing exposure to media studies students on scientific research and ways in which it can be conveyed to a wider audience. The talks touched on Vishnupriya’s research in agroforestry landscapes, as well as on BlueMAP-India, a...

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(February 29, 2024) Avantika Deep Sharma and Sabiya Sheikh from The Dhole Project at WCS-India recently attended and presented the team’s work at the 3rd Annual Research Conference organised by the Advanced Institute for Conservation Research in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. This conference brought together individuals and institutions engaged in research within Tamil Nadu, including state forest officials. Its primary objective was to foster discussions on the prioritisation of managem...

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(February 26, 2024) On February 16, 2024, Radha Pennathur and Manish Machaiah from the WCS-India’s Communications and Outreach team hosted a Visual Storytelling session at Christ (Deemed to be University), Yeshwantpur campus in Bengaluru. With examples from their own body of work and those that inspired them, Radha delved into the intricacies of storytelling through art and design, while Manish provided insights into audiovisual storytelling. The session, spanning two hours, saw enthusiastic participation fr...

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(February 23, 2024) Six wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka to be recommended for being declared ecologically sensitive areas | The Hindu Karnataka's recent decision to recommend six wildlife sanctuaries and surrounding areas as ecologically sensitive zones signals a key step in the country's conservation efforts. This move highlights the government's commitment to protecting biodiversity, addressing human-wildlife conflict, and fostering collaboration between communities, conservationists, and the gov...

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