Wildlife Research and Conservation Society

Dr. Prachi Mehta gets a global recognition. Mehta's works has received recognition at national and international level. This news was covered in different newspapers.

We continue to be inspired by all the wonderful work done by women and men today and every day! 
Featuring Janaki Lenin's article on the Forest Owlet that appeared in the Hindu ! Janaki Lenin

How smokeless chulhas and saris-turned-mahua-nets are helping reduce human-tiger conflict in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Smokeless chulhas, handicraft-making and innovations in collecting mahua flowers have ensured villagers around the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra don’t spend too much time deep inside the forest. But their rehabilitation process has come under some fire.

WRCS has been training women in handcraft activities related to biodiversity theme. From 25th to 30 August 2019, our product designer team comprising of Arun R, Shubham Singh visited the project area in Koyna and trained the women in making hand-stitched applique on tote bag and laptop bags, painted hornbill pouches, and painted giant squirrel coasters. The training was facilitated by Program Officer Sunil Kale and team. The women have learnt the techniques well and have produced wonderful products.

Since 2005, WRCS has been working  on the ecology and conservation of endangered Forest Owlet and other owls in Central India. Our field -based research has resulted in new insights on the habitat use, foraging, nesting and conservation needs of the Forest Owlet and other co-existing owls in Central Indian Landscape.  

Since 2012, WRCS is working in Koyna region in  Western Ghats of Maharashtra  to protect the vital corridor for tiger conservation. Private forest owners are participating in the project to protect the tree cover on their farms. The project is being supported by KPIT, TATA MOTORS and UPS Foundation.

WRCS has been training the farmers to take up crop guarding to prevent elephant entry in North Kanara district. Based on the success of our work, Mr. RG Bhatt, DCF Yellapur made a press announcement urging the farmers to install trip alarms  and use chilly smoke to prevent elephant entry in the farms. 

WRCS is encouraging farmers to secure their farms with trip alarms for an early alert. With the support from VFC and Forest Department, many villages have installed trip alarms as early warning systems and are able to prevent crop loss by elephants. 

WRCS and Mr. Girish Ranade from Futura Technologies, an engineering firm in Pune has developed  this ingenious siren to keep away the elephants from their farms. Many farmers are purchasing  such units to keep away the elephants.  

Partnering with communities for Wildlife Conservation 

Analysis of Human-Elephant conflict in India and the Solutions WRCS offers!

Its Bees! Bees are the answer to the elephant raids. Comes with other ecological and financial benefits.

Villagers are often the first line of defence against elephants wandering into farmland and settlements, so community-led efforts with traditional methods have come to the forefront.

Local Communities are the primary stakeholders for conservation of species and landscapes. Through Our "Community Initiative Program", our local women's groups make beautiful hand-crafted products. 

A unique project in Uttara Kannada is training village women to deal with the conflict by linking conservation with the source of their income.

How farmers and wildlife biologists of WRCS in Karnataka devised a unique method to manage man-animal conflict!

"Although the number does not seem big right now, the continuous decrease in forest cover year after year is a cause of concern" - Jayant Kulkarni, Executive Director, WRCS about loss of Forests in the state. 

Twenty enthusiastic field staff of Nagaland Forest Department traveled for 4 days to participate in Elephant Conflict Management workshop conducted by WRCS in Karnataka. Two batches for two consecutive years!  

Presence of Forest Owlet has been recorded from Toranmal and Taloda ranges of Nandurbar district. In 2015, WRCS team carried out an intensive survey in Nandurbar district and was rewarded with new locations.

While working on the ecology of Forest Owlet in Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh, WRCS conducted a survey of Forest Owlet in adjoining Betul District. We were successful in recording it from Betul Forests. 

Our long term work on the Forest Owlet Ecology in Khandwa took a step further with a record of the species from Betul Forests as well. Interesting to note that the species is found manly in teak dominant forests. 

Since 2010, WRCS is training the local farmers of North Kanara District of Karnataka  to participate in the Community-based Conflict Management (CBCM) by using simple and low-cost crop protection methods. 

WRCS has been studying the ecology of Forest Owlet in Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh. Across the border, in Melghat Forests, there is a good population of Forest Owlet. WRCS will start the first phase of the study here soon. 

The rusty colored Giant Squirrel or Shekru is the State Animal of Maharashtra. Bhimashankar Sanctuary supports good number of this arboreal mammal. The Local Forest Department carried out a nest count in the area. 

A study on the status and distribution of forests from Northern Western Ghats has revealed that considerable forests are malki or under private holdings and are being diverted for commercial purpose.  

Patrolling the rugged terrain of Melghat, walking through the hills and streams and living the life in forests is a dream for many. WRCS created this opportunity by inviting citizens to help in patrolling the forests in Melghat.

Yet another novel initiative by WRCS, a citizen patrolling program has been organized in Jarida forest range of Melghat Tiger Reserve.  The program received an ovewhelming response from the nature loving citizens of the country. 

Forest Owlet is surviving in isolated populations in the country. There is a population in Melghat Forests as well. WRCS is studying the breeding success of the species and distribution of the species in Melghat. 

Western Ghats are known to support rich bird diversity. To assess the status of forest and endemic birds, WRCS carried out an intensive survey in the Maharashtra Western Ghats. Forest specialists and endemic species were found in fewer areas.

In 2002, a group of elephants from Karnataka reached Kolhapur Forests and have established their home in the region. Maharashtra Forest Department invited WRCS to suggest strategies to manage the uninvited guests in the state. 

Although Forests are considered to be a renewable resource, the speed at which they are being diverted for development, there is hardly any scope for its regeneration and renewal. Eco-sensitive zones will help in keeping aside valuable patches of forests. 

WRCS carried out a status survey of the Indian Giant Squirrel in Western Ghats of Maharashtra for two years. The survey assessed the occupancy status and the types of threats faced by the species in  surveyed area. 

Giant Squirrel make leafy nests on trees for nesting and resting. A squirrel can make one nest or have more than one nest, depending on availability of resources in its range.

Success story of a Two years extensive search of critically endangered Forest owlet and new habitation sites!