Wildlife Conservation Trust

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Anish Andheria dives deep into the harsh truths of tiger conservation and what it really takes to protect India’s wild. Watch the full episode on @ilahitravels YouTube channel Part 1: https://lnkd.in/d3T_uteM Part 2: https://lnkd.in/dHmaqymz #IlahiTravelsPodcast #TigerConservation #DrAnishAndheria #WildlifeConservation #AnishAndheriaTalks

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Anish Andheria dives deep into the harsh truths of tiger conservation and what it really takes to protect India’s wild. Watch the full episode on @ilahitravels YouTube channel Part 1: https://lnkd.in/d3T_uteM Part 2: https://lnkd.in/dHmaqymz #IlahiTravelsPodcast #TigerConservation #DrAnishAndheria #WildlifeConservation #AnishAndheriaTalks

Maharashtra: Rare dhole sighting in Pune offers hope for endangered species. Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) and Shillim Institute have documented an expansion in the range of the endangered Asiatic wild dog, also known as the dhole, into the northern Sahyadri range. Recent evidence, including photographs, confirms the presence of these elusive predators in the Pawana Dam catchment area in Pune. https://lnkd.in/dJyAWFb3 Anish Andheria IUCN #dholes #asiaticwilddogs #maharashtra #wildlifeconservation #endangered

Just as all that glitters is not gold, not all green is good. In the western Indian state of Rajasthan that is defined by its open, arid, and dry landscape, an alien floral intruder, Prosopis juliflora, has steadily altered the soil composition, outcompeted native vegetation, and disrupted wildlife habitats. But we, at WCT, are fighting back. Certain Prosopis-dominated areas in Rajasthan have turned into laboratories of sorts for WCT’s restoration ecologists over the past year. Our studies are improving our understanding of the impacts of Prosopis juliflora, while the scientific ecosystem restoration efforts are helping in assisting the recovery of native vegetation. WCT aims to rebuild the resilient savanna ecosystems around the Aravalli landscape through scientific and community-engaged restoration actions. Read the full article authored by Dr. Chetan Misher, PhD , Restoration Ecologist, WCT, and Purva Variyar , Conservation and Science Writer, WCT, originally published in the October 2025 issue of Sanctuary Asia magazine. WCT's Ecosystem Restoration programme in Rajasthan is supported by Karvansarai Investments Private Limited. #EcosystemRestoration #InvasiveSpecies #wctindia #ConservationScience #AravalliLandscape #BiodiversityIndia #HabitatRestoration #SanctuaryAsia #WildlifeConservationTrust

Pawana reservoir, formed as a result of a dam built across the Pawana river in 1973, is a popular tourist spot in Maharashtra’s Pune district. The reservoir’s catchment area, situated within the northern Western Ghats, comprises a complex landscape with multiple land uses. WCT, in collaboration with Shillim Institute, has recently initiated a preliminary eco-hydrological assessment of the Pawana catchment landscape. One of the most significant findings from this survey was the first confirmed photographic evidence of the dhole (Cuon alpinus) from the Pawana catchment forests. Although the dhole is known to occur in several parts of the Western Ghats, this record is significant as it represents an extension of the known range/distribution of the species in the northern Western Ghats within Maharashtra. Before this survey, the northernmost record of the dhole was from the Phansad and Tamhini wildlife sanctuaries. Image Captions: A dhole camera-trapped in the catchment area of the Pawana reservoir. Image Credit: WCT/Shillim Institute/Maharashtra Forest Department. Madhura Niphadkar Anish Andheria Chetan Misher, PhD #WesternGhats #WildlifeConservation #Dhole #BiodiversityIndia #WildlifeResearch #EcoHydrology #NatureInMaharashtra #wctindia #WildlifeConservationTrust

The rare and endangered Ganges river dolphininhabits several rivers in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh that form part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system. This nearly blind freshwater mammal has been a focal species of WCT's Riverine Ecosystems and Livelihoods (REAL) Programme, which has been supported by The Habitats Trust, currently, and earlier by the BNP Paribas Foundation. State forest departments often need to know the estimated population range of threatened species within their jurisdiction for conservation efforts. However, they typically only monitor dolphins in the river stretches within their divisions. This makes it challenging to get a comprehensive understanding of dolphin populations across different river stretches. To address this long-standing gap, WCT's REAL team has developed the 'Ganges River DolphinPopulation Tracker' app, starting with the state of Bihar. This app provides information on the population size and trends of Ganges River dolphins in the districts of Bihar where they are found, utilising our own data and other confirmed survey data sources. We have received encouraging positive feedback for the app and hope to expand its geographical coverage based on our continued monitoring. #GangesRiverDolphin #WildlifeConservation #RiverineEcosystems #EndangeredSpecies #ConservationTechnology #wctindia Nachiket Kelkar

Another one of our camera traps installed in the Sahyadri landscape bites the dust! This curious sloth bear mother-cub duo decided to not only inspect this camera trap, but also attack it. Sloth bears have a sharp sense of smell. They can detect their favourite food - insect grubs, up to three feet under the ground. It is no wonder then, that these intelligent animals can easily whiff out human scent left on the camera traps by the field team members who installed them. We are equal parts amused at the bears' antics, amazed by their behaviour, but also frustrated at the loss of precious data from our meticulously-placed camera traps! Footage: ©WCT/Maharashtra Forest Department Video edit: Girish Punjabi #WorldSlothBearDay #WildlifeConservation #Sahyadri #SlothBear #CameraTrap #MaharashtraWildlife #SlothBearCub #WildlifeMonitoring #wctindia #WildlifeConservationTrust

What is it like for a wildlife biologist to transition into a forest officer and wildlife manager? How can researchers and non-governmental organisations collaborate better with the forest department? How has the forest department and wildlife management in Assam evolved over the past 25 years? Explore the answers to these and many more questions as the Wildlife Conservation Trust continues with its Talking Conservation interview series. Our guest for this edition is Dr. Sonali Ghosh, Field Director, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, who is a distinguished Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer with over 25 years of expertise in forestry and wildlife governance. Dr. Ghosh, who has successfully managed two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Manas and Kaziranga, and is a founding faculty member of the Wildlife Institute of India’s Category 2 Centre for World Natural Heritage in Asia and the Pacific, sits down for an interview with writer and wildlife historian Raza Kazmi. Part 1 of Talking Conservation with Dr. Sonali Ghosh is out now! Watch here : https://lnkd.in/dm9C_MB2 #ForestProtection #forestofficials #science #wildlifeconservationtrust #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #conservationinterviews #wctindia #wildlifeweek2025

The impact of exotic pet trade on wildlife and ecosystems is deadly. The illegal trade in wildlife is pushing species to the brink, emptying natural habitats, and inflicting unimaginable suffering on wild animals. And the fish you see in aquariums are no exception. Millions of animals are taken from the wild each year to satiate the aquarium industry where mortality rates are extremely high. Owning exotic animals is a growing and disturbing trend seen across India in recent times. Every year thousands of wild animals are smuggled into and from India as part of the notorious exotic pet trade, and owned illegally with no accountability. The conditions in which animals are captured from the wild, transported, kept captive, bred, and displayed is the stuff of nightmares. Say no to buying, keeping or breeding wild animals as pets! ‘Think Like An Ecologist’ is a comic series by Wildlife Conservation Trust. Artwork by Akshaya Elizabeth Zachariah Concept and script by Purva Variyar #ThinkLikeAnEcologist #WildlifeConservationTrust #SayNoToExoticPets #WildlifeTrade #ExoticPetTrade #StopWildlifeTrafficking #TrappedInTrade #EndIllegalWildlifeTrade #WildlifeConservation #BiodiversityMatters #protectwildlife #WildlifeWeek

About 5,200 Ganges river dolphins are present across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and associated river systems in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, as per the IUCN Red List Assessment of 2022. However, accidental deaths due to entanglement in fishing nets is one of the primary threats to these cetaceans. Studies by WCT estimate that the annual count of dolphin deaths in fishing nets may be four to five percent of their global population, which is significant given the species' longevity and slow maturation time (9-10 years). In the Riverine Ecosystems and Livelihoods (REAL) programme, WCT has been studying ecological interactions between Ganges river dolphins and fishing activity and working to reduce dolphin bycatch mortalities, inform sustainable fishing practices, catalyse co-existence between dolphins and fisheries, and promote the wellbeing of river-dependent communities to seek their sustained support in conservation. The programme has been supported by The Habitats Trust , BNP Paribas Group, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Foundation, Duleep Matthai Nature Conservation Trust, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), and DOLPHIN QUEST, USA. To know more about the REAL programme, visit the link below. https://lnkd.in/dtMszrg9 Artwork: Akshaya Elizabeth Zachariah #GangesRiverDolphin #SaveDolphins #RiverConservation #Bycatch #WildlifeConservation #FreshwaterBiodiversity #AquaticEcosystems #SustainableFisheries #ConservationMatters #WildlifeWeek #wctindia #RiversForLife #ProtectNature Nachiket Kelkar