Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Chairman’s Note 02
Trustees and President 04
Advisory Board Members 05
India’s Biodiversity 07
The Environmental Crisis 08
WCT’s Reach 09
The 360° Approach 10
Conservation Strategy 11
Equipping Patrolling Camps 13
Rapid Response Units 14
Improving Mobility of Forest Staff 15
Wildlife Crime Prevention Training
for Frontline Forest Staff 17
Wildlife Crime Prevention Training
for Senior Officials 18
Law Enforcement Monitoring 19
Site Security 21
Canine-Assisted Wildlife
Investigation Programme 23
Connectivity Conservation 25
Wildlife Population Estimation 27
Understanding Tiger Dispersal
Using Genetics 30
Radio-Telemetry 31
Human-Wildlife Interface Management 33
Human Death Investigation 35
Wildlife Health Monitoring 36
Rediscovery of Eurasian Otter 37
Conservation through Citizen Science 38
Mitigating the Impact of
Linear Infrastructure 39
Conservation Behaviour 41
Village Social Transformation
Programme (VSTP) 43
Livelihoods 45
Preventive Health Check-up of
Frontline Forest Staff 47
Trauma Management Training 49
Improving Access to Healthcare
for Frontline Forest Staff 51
Education 54
Cluster Resource Centres (CRCs)
and Block Resource Centres (BRCs) 55
Influencing Policies 57
WCT Small Grants (WCT-SG) 59
Other Projects 61
Donors & Partners 71
Photo Credits 74
President’s Note 76
‘ The Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) was founded to safeguard India’s life-giving
ecosystems in a holistic, sustainable manner. Recognising the interconnectedness
between people and ecosystems, WCT uses a 360° approach to conservation by placing
equal emphasis on both forest and wildlife conservation and community development.
We work closely with forest departments across the country to fortify on-ground protection
by training and equipping frontline forest staff. Through partnerships with NGOs, the Trust is
attempting to strengthen public education systems, provide alternative livelihood options
to rural youth and make healthcare accessible to people living in and around India’s
forests. The idea is simple—secure key wildernesses to safeguard wildlife, people and
rivers, and mitigate climate change. I invite you to join us in our mission to create a
healthier, more prosperous India.
Hemendra Kothari
Founder and Chairman
President
Dr. Anish Andheria
Large Carnivore biologist, specialises in prey-predator relationships;
Carl Ziess Conservation Awardee (2008); UAA-ICT Distinguished Alumnus
Awardee (2017); Member, State Board of Wildlife, Maharashtra and
Madhya Pradesh; Member, Madhya Pradesh Tiger Conservation
Foundation.
Species of birds
Water Climate
About 71% of earth’s surface is covered with Studies show that there has been a rapid rise
water, but only a small fraction of this water is in global temperatures post the industrial era.
1,500+
available for human consumption. Since 1880s, the average temperatures have
increased by 0.8° Celsius. The impact of rising
temperatures will be devastating and has
Species of butterflies caused:
0.008%
of all water is surface water, available
for human consumption
400+
Falling crop yields in many areas, particularly
developing regions
1.75%
many areas
96.5%
15 of all water
is in the oceans
Species of wild cats
Rising intensity of storms, forest fires, droughts,
flooding and heat waves
WCT plays a catalytic role in the landscapes it operates in. Our focus is on strengthening Several million people live in and around forests. Thus, one cannot talk about conservation
sustainable ecosystems that will continue to serve wildlife and communities in the long-term. To without community participation. In view of this fact, WCT has adopted a 360° approach to
achieve this, we work closely with government bodies and local NGOs, providing funding, conservation by focusing equally on wildlife protection and community development. Our
technical support and consultancy. The solutions we create are rooted in hard science and are mission is to secure vital wildlife habitats and catalyse the upliftment of marginalised
easily replicable. communities.
Conservation
Health
Research
Law Enforcement
Education
Training
Conservation
Behaviour Livelihoods
54
Digital
Torch GPS
Round the clock duty camera Binoculars
fully functional RRUs deployed
Patrolling rough terrain
Combating forest fires
Intercepting illegal activities
Water tank Utensils Water
purrifie
Water
bottle 33 essential items per RRU
43
Enduring extreme weather
Mosquito Solar
Possibility of animal attacks net Compass Walkie-talkie charging Protected Areas covered
unit
Donations
4,500
Bicycles
650
Motor
vehicles
15
Boats
WCT has initiated specialised training programmes for frontline forest staff with the aim of
Judiciary
creating better capacity for on-field enforcement responses to wildlife crime. The basic and
advanced sessions, titled ‘Law Enforcement, Evidence Collection and Site Security’ (LEECSS)
Prosecution
and ‘Module on Offence Reduction and Enforcement’ (MORE) respectively, are designed for
imparting skills in the effective use of wildlife law, wildlife forensics and crime scene
management practices.
Animal parts
Forensics
N
W E
Evidence
Weapons
Patrolling route
FG naka
Patrolling camp
Barrier
Animal layer
Our analysis highlights corridors connecting existing Protected Areas and other tiger source
Road and rail layer sites in a landscape. The map shows areas best suited for movement of tigers and identifies
possible pinch points along them. The red and orange regions in the map show areas with
least resistance to tiger movement.
However, at several places there are bottlenecks or a near break in connectivity. Such areas
Vegetation layer need urgent attention not only from the government but also from NGOs working to ensure
long-term sustenance of forests, wildlife and communities.
25 | Wildlife Conservation Trust Wildlife Conservation Trust | 26
Wildlife Population Estimation
WCT uses camera traps to count tigers and leopards, and helps the government maintain
a consolidated database of large carnivores living both inside and outside Protected Areas.
Camera trapping is by far the most reliable population estimation technique.
WCT has the capacity to survey about 8,000 sq. km of tiger habitat using camera traps each
year. Our current work focuses on forests outside national parks and sanctuaries to make
a case for conservation of tigers in the corridors.
Our camera trapping exercise also helps understand the abundance and distribution of
several lesser-known species such as wolf, hyena, pangolin, ratel, rusty-spotted cat, Indian fox,
otter and four-horned antelope. This information will go a long way in planning recovery
programmes for these rapidly dwindling species. Another major benefit of WCT's long-term
camera trapping work is the estimation of the dependence of local communities on forest
and wildlife. This in turn assists both the government and other NGOs in planning interventions
that can reduce forest degradation without hampering the livelihoods of people living in and
around forests.
‘ Systematic and intensive monitoring of tiger populations inside and outside Protected Areas
tells us whether WCT's community and protection-related interventions are successful.
A stable tiger population indicates a healthy ecosystem, which in turn means that local
communities will be able to avail the benefits of ecosystem services such as clean water, rich
soils, pollination, seed dispersal etc.
Vivek Tumsare
Field Biologist
Umred-
Pauni-
Karhandla
Tadoba-
Andhari
‘
700 km
Most wild tigers live in small, isolated Protected Areas (PAs) interspersed in
WCT's field
a sea of human-dominated environment. While significant effort has been
studies have
invested in increasing tiger populations inside PAs, much less has been done to revealed dispersal
understand the influence of different landscape elements on connectivity of and population
connectivity of tigers
disjointed tiger populations. WCT is trying to fill this gap by employing genetic across long distances
approaches in conjunction with landscape ecology to study and measure the in central India.
extent of such effects on tiger populations.
Aditya Joshi
Head, Conservation Research
WCT uses radio-telemetry to understand how dispersing tigers use their habitat, to suggest
and implement community interventions for mitigating conflict arising from the interaction
between people and tigers.
Some effective interventions include livelihood programmes to reduce dependence of
people on forests and awareness drives to inform people about subtle behaviour changes
needed to coexist with large carnivores.
Understanding the dispersal of tigers and leopards also helps us devise training programmes
for frontline forest staff. WCT also assists the forest department in radio-collaring tigers that
have been declared as dangerous to humans. By closely monitoring their movements,
we provide unbiased evidence to enable the forest department to make critical decisions.
WCT assists the forest department developing a human-tiger interface prediction module. This
Between 2015-2018, WCT has carried out 61 interventions involving wild animals module uses spatial and temporal characteristics of previous interactions and helps the forest
department in predicting potentially sensitive situations in the future.
WCT's veterinarians assist the forest departments in:
Issues that needed WCT intervention WCT interventions - Tracking tigers inhabiting areas close to human settlements
‘
Radio-collaring
Tiger deaths
interface 23%
management Post- Large carnivores, when in proximity of human dominated landscapes, attract considerable
Others
mortem attention because of the perceived threat to human life. This often leads to removal of animals
by the forest department or persecution of animals by local communities. WCT’s intreventions
Species benefited from WCT interventions
under the HWIM project provide technical assistance to the forest department to understand
and manage conflict on the ground and propose solutions which are favourable to both
people and animals.
8% 85% 7% Veterinarian
Species
Filter Rule out all other animals in the landscape capable of causing human casualty
Tiger
Database
Data Data
Generator
Create Undertake systematic camera trapping
Database and sign surveys, collect forensic samples
Analysis
Global distribution of three otter species (above left) as per IUCN Red List indicating the absence of Eurasian otter (top) from the Central
Indian Landscape. WCT study showing the presence of Eurasian otter (red dots) at higher elevations (above 550 m) and that of
Smooth-coated otter (pink dots) at elevations below 500 m in Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh (above right).
While the other two species are found at many places across India, the Eurasian otter, as per
old records, was believed to occur in the Himalayas and in some remote high altitude streams
in southern Western Ghats. However, there was no direct evidence to confirm its presence in WCT has developed and launched an app called ‘Roadkills’ and a web-based platform
India. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Eurasian called roadkills.in to collect data on mortality of wild animals on roads and railway lines in
Otter is listed as ‘Near Threatened’. Throughout its historic range, this species has either gone India. This Citizen Science Project endeavours to engage with concerned citizens across the
extinct from several regions or its population has drastically reduced. WCT’s discovery extends country with the hope that the data collected in this manner will be useful to researchers and
its geographical range to central India and also provides the first ever photographic road planners across the country in reducing wildlife mortality, installing wildlife-friendly
evidence of its existance in India. This phenomenal finding underlines the value of large
mitigation structures along linear infrastructure, and improving passenger safety.
inviolate protected areas in conserving biodiversity.
Infrastructure
WCT is trying to fill this gap through a three-pronged approach so that a win-win solution can
be achieved for both natural ecosystems and development.
1. Road Ecology Surveys: WCT conducts ecological studies on roads which are proposed
for expansion, to locate the hotpots of roadkills and help identify suitable locations for
introducing mitigation structures (opposite page, bottom), so that conservation costs are
incorporated at the inception of the project.
2. Addressing Gaps in Existing Policy: WCT maintains a database of proposed roads and
railways that are planned for upgradation. The proposed alignments of these roads and
railways are overlaid on maps of existing forests using GIS techniques to identify corridors
that are likely to get fragmented. These composite maps (below) are shared with
regulatory bodies so that mitigation structures can be planned proactively.
3. Building Capacity in the Field of Road Ecology: WCT collaborates with leading experts
to conduct training workshops focused on the science and policy aspects of road
ecology. We invite practitioners from regulatory agencies such as the NTCA, Forest
Department, infrastructure development agencies, NGOs, and wildlife biologists, not only
from India but also from other tiger range countries for these workshops.
Over the last decade, India’s economy has been growing at a fairly high rate, and is expected
to continue its trajectory in the near future. This creates a steep demand for linear infrastructure
such as roads, railways, power lines and canals, which are considered necessary for economic
growth. Linear infrastructure may require relatively small portions of forest land but has a
disproportionately large impact in the form of breakages in wildlife corridors, habitat
fragmentation, and wildlife mortality (roadkills). To mitigate the negative impact of such large
scale development is beyond the capacity of a single organisation. The problem is
compounded by inadequacy of data and lack of capacity among regulatory agencies.
Tiger Leopard
anthropology with strong ecological foundations are used to gather insights into ground
realities, which are then used to evolve evidence-based policy inputs, design conservation
interventions, and assess efficiencies of conservation interventions.
Rushikesh Chavan
Head, Conservation Behaviour
POLICY
GROUND REALITY
PSYCHOSOCIAL &
ECONOMIC FRAMEWORKS
Women carrying firewood collected from nearby forest (above left). Foxlight-cum-camera trap contraption
installed near an agricultural field to study and mitigate crop depredation by wild herbivores. A WCT study
(below) shows that energy consumption increases with increasing incomes.
Tadoba-Andhari
Tiger Reserve
Core Buffer
0 1000 Income 2000
Rural communities living in and around forests are important stakeholders in WCT's
conservation goals. We engage them so that they are able to a) align with the conservation
agenda and b) reduce their dependence on forests, while engaging in sustainable
livelihood practices.
WCT equips rural youth from remote forest villages with employability skills, connects them
with employers, and helps them build gainful careers.
Health checks are essential in developing a preventative approach by helping the early
diagnosis of conditions such as anemia, high blood pressure, liver disease, diabetes and eye
problems. Our health teams analyse the most prevalent conditions among forest staff and
The Caring for Conservators ensure that specialists are called in to provide advice and recommend the best line of
programme has benefited treatment.
16,000
frontline forest staff across India.
Overweight/Obesity
14% of forest staff were diagnosed
with chronic illnesses
Raised cholesterol
and triglycerides
Consumption of
tobacco
Consumption of
alcohol
22% of forest staff were found to be in
need of follow up healthcare services
The above inferences are based on the screening of 5,000 forest staff across 13 parks
10 KM Buffer
20
Our survey revealed that on an average forest guards have to travel over 30 km to avail basic
15
medical care. We found that 29% of the guards had suffered from malaria while working in the
field; and that there were marked variations in the distances required to be travelled for 10
definitive care. Delays in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment can have a significant 5
impact on the prognosis of this disease. WCT provides training to guards to use point-of-care
0
malaria testing kits to speed-up the diagnosis of the disease. r t ) ) i ri
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Bo nha ha zir
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WCT is now planning collaborative efforts with state health departments to develop strategies nd
ha M
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Pr
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Ba
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that will improve the access of primary health care facilities for forest staff around Protected N
aw (M
a
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Ta
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Areas. Pe
‘ Humans share natural resources with other life forms. Over centuries, the forest-based
lifestyle has metamorphosed into a massive urban society. The challenge is to allow humans
to gain and use knowledge while maintaining a harmonious relationship with the
environment. An education system that emphasises on equitable use of the last remaining
ecosystems without destabilising the balance of nature will redress the problem of
environmental degradation.
WCT assists the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) in building capacity of other Tiger Range Countries
(TRCs) by supporting bilateral tiger consultations between India-Bhutan (above), India-Nepal
and India-Bangladesh. WCT also funds specially-designed workshops for conservation
practitioners from other TRCs with a focus on better management of tiger landscapes.
WCT believes that the pivotal idea behind any long-term conservation effort is the involvement
of individuals and organisations through a) shared goals b) knowledge generation and
dissemination c) awareness building d) community participation and e) policy change. At Conservation status survey of Smooth-coated
the heart of all this is a robust understanding of species and their interaction with ecosystems, otters in the Krishna river delta of Andhra Pradesh
of which humans are an integral part.There are several organisations and individuals involved
in conservation and/or research of species and habitats. However, due to paucity of funds, Nest ecology and conservation of King Cobras in
many are unable to ask relevant questions that seek solutions for the sustenance of natural the Western Himalayas
ecosystems that are being impacted by the ever-increasing human footprint on the planet.
Assessing patterns of livestock loss due to wolves
In an attempt to provide opportunities to budding as well as practicing conservationists to
in an arid human use landscape of north
pursue their passion of conserving endangered species and their habitats, WCT launched
the WCT-SG programme in March 2017. Through this effort, we hope to draw attention to
Karnataka
lesser-known species that need as much, if not more, attention as the tiger, rhino Evaluating the efficacy of human-elephant
and elephant.
conflict mitigation strategies in reducing negative
interactions in the agroforestry landscape of
northern West Bengal
Understanding the responses of the endangered
Ganges River Dolphin to anthropogenic
underwater noise in the Ganga and Hooghly rivers
Initiating conservation breeding of Asian Brown
Tortoise in selected north-east Indian zoos with
focus on reintroduction strategies
Evaluating the population structure and
conservation status of the endangered
Humphead Wrasse in the Gulf of Mannar
Participatory assessment of coastal plateaus in
Ratnagiri district to designate “Biodiversity
Heritage Sites” as per Biodiversity Act, 2002
Assessing diet of Himalayan Brown Bear in relation
to bear-human conflict in the Kazinag National
Park, Kashmir Himalaya, India.
Social Fencing Urban Protected Areas: Model
planning for Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) for
Bannerghatta National Park in Bengaluru
WCT co-funded the Student Conference on Around 200 villages, harbouring 35,000 families,
Conservation Science (SCCS) in Bengaluru from surround the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.
2013 to 2016. SCCS is India’s premier conservation Estimates suggest that a whopping 350 tons of
conference where students, researchers, scientists, firewood was being collected by villagers on a daily
and experts from across the country share their basis. Namma Sangha has been working to reduce
work and debate on important conservation issues. their dependence on the forest, and has provided
Several workshops are conducted during the LPG connections to around 30,000 families. WCT
conference to provide conservation insights to the has donated two vehicles to Namma Sangha to
participants. ensure efficient distribution of LPG cylinders.
Electrifying Remote Villages with Solar Power Firearms Training for Frontline Forest Staff
WCT has supported a project targeted at providing WCT has been funding workshops on arms use and
solar micro-grids to Khamda, Kinnikheda, Khokmar, maintenance at the Pakke Tiger Reserve since 2015.
Raksha and Kund—five extremely remote villages The Pakke forest department organises the
with no electricity in the buffer zone of the Melghat workshop with the help of army personnel from 11
Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. With help from Bank of
Garhwal Rifles for the frontline forest staff of the
America, WCT electrified a total of 237 household
Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, the Nameri
connections amounting to 51.7 KV. This programme
Tiger Reserve, Assam, and a few other protected
will go a long way in empowering the villagers and
reducing their dependence on the forest. areas.
Grant For Genetic Research at NCBS Ex Gratia Support for Families of Forest Staff
Genetic monitoring using microsatellite markers is As a token of solidarity, WCT provides financial aid
helping us understand the demographic and to the families of frontline forest staff suffering from
evolutionary changes occurring in wild chronic illnesses or injuries while performing their
populations. Recent studies have opened up duty. We also supplement the state forest
avenues in terms of the best available marker set department’s efforts by providing ex gratia financial
for a given species. WCT has provided a grant to
support to the family of deceased forest staff.
the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS)
Additionally, we also support the treatment of the
to identify Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)
staff of other conservation NGOs.
markers suitable for identification of individual
tigers from fecal samples.
Ecological Assessment of Erstwhile Closed Areas Spreading Awareness among Local Communities
Rajasthan had designated a unique category of WCT continues to support NGOs working at the
Protected Area called Closed Area (CA). These grassroots level to spread awareness among
wildlife rich areas enjoyed protection under the people living in remote forested areas regarding
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; however, an
the positive spin-off of tiger and forest conservation
amendment to this Act has resulted in the loss of
on their well-being, using slide shows, exhibitions
their legal status, thus degrading many CAs. WCT
and street plays.
supported the Rajasthan Forest Department in
understanding the ecological status and
relevance of CAs so that efforts can be made to
convert critical CAs into Community Reserves.
Equipping Conservation NGOs - Nature School for Aquatic Wildlife Biology and Conservation
Conservation Society (Melghat) WCT supported the “School for Aquatic Wildlife
WCT supported Nature Conservation Society, an Biology and Conservation”—a course offered by the
NGO working in Melghat Tiger Reserve, by Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), India, in collaboration
equipping its newly constructed research cottages with the Madhya Pradesh Biodiversity Board at the
and dormitory at the community centre for tribals. National Chambal Sanctuary. The week-long course
The research cottages and dormitory were exposed ecologists, conservationists, veterinarians,
equipped with solar roof-top systems and solar students and forest officials to the ecology, research,
water heating systems. husbandry practices, and conservation strategies
employed when working in an aquatic environment.
Government Partnerships
Chetan Trivedy
49
Hira Rohankar
46 both
Kiran Rahalkar
23, 24 top
Narendra Kumbhare
48 top, middle left & bottom left, 50 bottom
Nikhil Tambekar
33-34
Ninad Bhosale
24 bottom
Prachi Paranjpye
43 left
Prashant Deshmukh
31
Rushikesh Chavan
44 both
Sheetal Navgire
38 top
Vishal Gadre
48 bottom right, 50 top
WCT
14 all, 20, 21 all, 22 all, 28 all camera trap,
30, 36, 37 camera trap, 38 bottom right,
45, 53, 58, Other Projects all