Into the Wild - Updates from May

Dear Reader,

May has been an exciting month for us at CWS! We hope you enjoy this issue of Into the Wild, as we bring you the latest updates, including exciting news and inspirational tales from our research, collaborations, and conservation efforts.

Our Latest Research Paper!

We are pleased to share with you our latest paper titled,?Examining leopard attacks: spatio-temporal clustering of human injuries and deaths in Western Himalayas, India. The study aimed at identifying patterns of attacks on people by leopards in Himachal Pradesh to reduce the risk for people living with big cats.?

This study led by our Doctoral Fellow, Shweta Shivakumar , alongside?Dr. David Carricondo Sánchez, Dr. Vidya Athreya, Dr. Morten Odden, Sat Pal Dhiman, Srinivas Vaidyanathan, and Dr. Krithi K. Karanth has been published in the journal,?Frontiers in Conservation Science.?

Click here to read the paper!

Ronil Gosavi Receives Biodiversity Enthusiast Appreciation Award

We are thrilled to announce that our Educator, Ronil Gosavi , has received the Biodiversity Enthusiast (North Goa) Appreciation Award for his remarkable conservation efforts. This prestigious recognition was awarded to him by the Goa State Biodiversity Board on International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated on 23rd May at Neura Village Panchayat.

The award was presented by Shri. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Hon'ble Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa and other notable dignitaries from the Goa State Biodiversity Board.

Applied Wildlife Population Ecology Course

Dr. Scott Mills, renowned wildlife biologist at the University of Montana, led a five-day online?course on Applied Wildlife Population Ecology,?in collaboration with Dr. Samba Kumar and Dr. K. Ullas Karanth.?

The students?enthusiastically delved?into topics of applied population ecology, evolutionary biology, genomics, field biology and?population modeling. The course also equipped them with essential?skills required for both management and research by teaching them how to effectively use?data, models, and ecological concepts to address pressing questions involving the harvest, monitoring, and conservation of wildlife populations.

Dr. Krithi Karanth speaks at the Rotary Club of Madras, Chennai

On 30th May, Dr. Krithi K. Karanth gave an invited lecture at the Rotary Club of Madras in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She discussed different ways to mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife drawing insights from over 25 years of experience in research, conservation and education.

Media Coverage

Planet Hope: Alleviating human-wildlife conflict with Dr. Krithi Karanth

Tune into the latest episode of Planet Hope ( Times Business ) , a powerful podcast in partnership with ROLEX and its Perpetual Planet Initiative that confronts the urgent challenges our planet faces. Discover how our Executive Director and Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate, Dr. Krithi K. Karanth , is leveraging technology to foster harmony and mitigate conflict between people and wildlife.

Please click here to listen to the full episode.?

Cheetah cub from India's first litter in 70 years dies of dehydration

India's first cheetah cub in 70 years dies of dehydration. Three more cheetah deaths at Kuno National Park!

“The Kuno effort is a vanity project for PR purposes. Cheetahs in India are a valid project but the present project cannot achieve that goal for both ecological and social reasons,” Dr. K. Ullas Karanth told The National News .

Click here to read the full article.

Stories From The Field

Exploring the Eastern Ghats

“The crimson twilight skies turned as darkness fell, interrupted only by the croaking frogs and shrill cicada songs. Despite it being April, the peak of Indian summer, a chill hung in the air. Wexed on a viewpoint along the Sileru-Chintapalli road, high in the Northern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh at 1200 meters above sea level. From there, we glimpsed the shimmering Sileru River, obstructed by five large dams that had submerged vast forested areas. This region is home to various mammals, rare reptiles, and birds. Our team was on a reconnaissance visit, preparing for a project in this part of the Eastern Ghats.

The Eastern Ghats, one of Earth's oldest landforms, has experienced extensive deforestation due to shifting cultivation, timber extraction, dam construction, mining, and industrialization. To gain a comprehensive perspective, we visited Jindhagada Peak, the highest mountain in the Eastern Ghats, 20 km from Paderu. Standing at 1695 meters above sea level, the peak offered a panoramic view of the degraded landscape. The hills are rich in bauxite and iron ore, leading to mining attempts. However, Extensive forest restoration is the need of the hour in the Northern Eastern Ghats,and this can benefit biodiversity, local communities, and ensure long-term water security for rivers like the Godavari and Krishna, amidst the threat of climate change.”

– Vikram Aditya , Principal Scientist, Wildlife Hunting And Trade Program

Wild Seve

During one of our Wild Seve cases, we met Umesh, a farmer residing in Kunagahalli village, which is near the Bandipur Tiger Reserve limits. His life revolved around tending to his banana crop, which was sustenance for his family. However, elephants?raided his banana crop night after night, threatening his livelihood. Unable to bear the losses, he was at the crossroads of anger and helplessness.

Umesh called the Wild Seve toll free number, and recounted the incident. Our field assistant, Dinesh B. G.,?immediately reached the site and collected all the evidence and documents and assisted him in filing for ex-gratia compensation with the Government.

With despair turning into empathy, Umesh?began advocating for peaceful coexistence, sharing his story with fellow farmers, encouraging them to seek solutions, and fostering a future where elephants and humans thrive.?

Wild Science

The Domino Effect: How?events in Brazil impact wild herbivores in Bandipur

It is interesting to think about how global events approximately 15 thousand kilometers away will impact the ancient agro pastoral system of villages around Bandipur National Park. Furthermore, how the transformation of the traditional system could potentially impact the forest and surrounding wildlife. This case study by Dr. Madhusudan M. D. shows the impact of frost in Brazil on the wildlife of Bandipur National Park.

~ Blog author, chandan Kumar pandey

Click to read more.?

Are problem leopards causing attacks on people in Himachal Pradesh India??

Indians live with lions, tigers and leopards in their neighbourhoods in some parts of the country! But what does this mean for the people who have lived with these wild animals??In this study led by our Doctoral Fellow, Shweta Shivakumar, wildlife researchers of India and Norway conducted a recent study to know if problem leopards are causing attacks on people in Himachal Pradesh India.?

~ Blog author, Shweta Shivakumar

?Click here to read more.?

Job Opportunities

Assistant/Associate Director: Education

This position involves overseeing all our education programs, building partnerships with academic institutions, schools and state and central governments. This includes the on-ground environmental education programs focused on rural landscapes in all locations, working closely with the program managers, coordinators and field staff for statewide implementation, and also the online version of the program with nationwide implementation in government and private schools.?More details here!

Fundraising Coordinator

The Fundraising Coordinator is a key role in helping the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) to grow the scale and impact of our programs. The position engages with multiple teams of researchers and conservationists at CWS to develop grant proposals, build CSR networks, and develop new fundraising opportunities. The candidate should have a proven track record of writing successful proposals for research and conservation programs, preferably in the wildlife and environment sector.?More details here!

In joining us on this mission to protect India's wildlife and wildlands, you become an invaluable force in safeguarding the fragile ecosystems that sustain life. Your support, whether through active participation, spreading awareness, or advocating for change, can make a significant difference in ensuring?a future where the remarkable biodiversity of India thrives?and the wildlands remain a sanctuary for generations to come.

Warm regards,

Media and Outreach Team?

Centre for Wildlife Studies