However, at the end of the day knowing that we are able to make a difference in the lives of animals that in desperate need of help makes my job extremely fulfilling!
Tell us about your background and journey. What inspired you to work in this field?
A large part of my childhood was spent in the midst of nature. Even as a student I volunteered with the Karnataka Forest Department and even had the opportunity to accompany the night patrol teams as they monitored the forest. As a school student, I also assisted with rescues and rehabilitation of birds, snakes etc. These experiences inspired me to protect India’s wildlife and that eventually became the dream that I pursued.
I was saddened and appalled at the intolerance that a lot of people exhibited to the presence of wildlife in their surroundings. Valuable wildlife habitat lost to rapid and unplanned urbanization.
Habitat fragmentation by Railway lines, roads, electric lines crisscrossing and creating a maze for wild animals to negotiate. What alarmed me most was the poaching of wildlife and habitat destruction that was doing irreversible and widespread damage to our already fragile and delicate ecosystems. I decided to do something about it.
The trigger was a series of incidents that included one where I tracked and apprehended a forest criminal (timber smuggler) from inside a forest while working there as a wildlife biologist gathering data on wild animals using line-transect systems.
This incident sparked what eventually became a raging fire inside of me. I was consumed by an urge to do more than just help. I could not stand by and watch any longer and had to be a catalyst, a change-maker and use every living moment to help this cause.
This incident sparked what eventually became a raging fire inside of me. I was consumed by an urge to do more than just help. I could not stand by and watch any longer and had to be a catalyst, a change-maker and use every living moment to help this cause.
I just had to make a difference, a real difference in this lifetime! It was an emergency situation “a real SOS for India’s forests and wildlife” And thus I started Wildlife SOS which I co-founded with Geeta Seshamani who has a high level of dedication, integrity and compassion to bring lasting change to help India’s wildlife.
How does your organisation work for saving wildlife?
Wildlife SOS was established in 1995 by a small group of individuals inspired to start a movement and make lasting change to protect and conserve India’s natural heritage, forest and wildlife wealth.
How does your organisation work for saving wildlife?
Wildlife SOS was established in 1995 by a small group of individuals inspired to start a movement and make lasting change to protect and conserve India’s natural heritage, forest and wildlife wealth.
Today, the organisation has evolved to actively work towards protecting Indian wildlife, conserving habitat, studying biodiversity, conducting research and creating alternative and sustainable livelihoods for erstwhile poacher communities or those communities that depend on wildlife for sustenance. We are the largest wildlife rescue organization in India and run 11 wildlife rescue centres all over the country.
Some of our key projects are as follows;
- Eradicating the illegal practice of Dancing bears in India
- Alternative livelihoods to Tribal communities engaged in wildlife poaching.
- Human-wildlife Conflict mitigation- specific focus on leopards, bears, elephants and reptiles.
- Wild elephant radio-collaring and Early Warning System (EWS) establishment.
- Leopard Protection and Conservation.
- Anti-poaching Unit- ‘ForestWatch’
- Habitat Conservation & Restoration
- Wildlife Rescue Hotline in multiple locations
- Conservation education & public awareness
What do you think are the major challenges of preserving wildlife in India?
Conservation issues and challenges related to wildlife in India is not just the fear of animals like tigers, leopards and elephants getting poached. In some communities, whether due to fiscal troubles or otherwise, animals like Chinkara are often hunted for bushmeat.
Some of our key projects are as follows;
- Eradicating the illegal practice of Dancing bears in India
- Alternative livelihoods to Tribal communities engaged in wildlife poaching.
- Human-wildlife Conflict mitigation- specific focus on leopards, bears, elephants and reptiles.
- Wild elephant radio-collaring and Early Warning System (EWS) establishment.
- Leopard Protection and Conservation.
- Anti-poaching Unit- ‘ForestWatch’
- Habitat Conservation & Restoration
- Wildlife Rescue Hotline in multiple locations
- Conservation education & public awareness
What do you think are the major challenges of preserving wildlife in India?
Conservation issues and challenges related to wildlife in India is not just the fear of animals like tigers, leopards and elephants getting poached. In some communities, whether due to fiscal troubles or otherwise, animals like Chinkara are often hunted for bushmeat.
In such cases, there’s a very faint line between ethics and reason because one can’t argue with someone over morals when they are living on an empty stomach.
Human-animal conflict is another challenge for us. When the farms of those living on the fringes of the forests are marauded by rampaging elephants or domestic dogs are carried off by leopards, it is hard to explain to people the concept of coexistence. Other challenges include habit destruction, fragmentation of forests, rapid urbanisation etc.
What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that? What do you find the most rewarding part of your work?
Starting from a two-member team to growing into a team of 200 full-time employees, the journey has been a roller-coaster ride for us. While we face many challenges, starting with changing the mind-sets of people and fighting what was considered to be the tradition.
Human-animal conflict is another challenge for us. When the farms of those living on the fringes of the forests are marauded by rampaging elephants or domestic dogs are carried off by leopards, it is hard to explain to people the concept of coexistence. Other challenges include habit destruction, fragmentation of forests, rapid urbanisation etc.
What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that? What do you find the most rewarding part of your work?
Starting from a two-member team to growing into a team of 200 full-time employees, the journey has been a roller-coaster ride for us. While we face many challenges, starting with changing the mind-sets of people and fighting what was considered to be the tradition.
Other challenges include delays in court cases and loopholes in wildlife protection acts hindering conservation and rescue efforts, acquiring funds to cover recurring costs for animal care as well funds for expanding our land and resources to enable better care, equipment and development of specialized skills required for managing and treating our rehabilitated animals.
However, at the end of the day knowing that we are able to make a difference in the lives of animals that in desperate need of help makes my job extremely fulfilling!
What are your views about the wildlife a few decades ago and in the present scenario (in India)?
India is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries of the world. Being home to 7-8% of the world’s recorded species, from top predators such as the Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers to large herbivores such as the Asian elephant and one-horned rhino sustain several complex ecosystems in India.
However, at the end of the day knowing that we are able to make a difference in the lives of animals that in desperate need of help makes my job extremely fulfilling!
What are your views about the wildlife a few decades ago and in the present scenario (in India)?
India is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries of the world. Being home to 7-8% of the world’s recorded species, from top predators such as the Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers to large herbivores such as the Asian elephant and one-horned rhino sustain several complex ecosystems in India.
However, over the years, their populations in the wild have come under ever-increasing threats such as poaching, wildlife trafficking, habitat destruction, fragmentation of forests , rapid urbanisation and man-animal conflict etc.
The need of the hour is public education. The fact that we have wild tigers, elephants, leopards, bears, pangolins and a wealth of wildlife living cheek to jowl amidst us in one of the most densely populated countries in the world is a sign there is still hope and if each one of us does the right thing to help protect and conserve wildlife then we can certainly make a difference. Wildlife SOS invites people to be a part of the solution!
The need of the hour is public education. The fact that we have wild tigers, elephants, leopards, bears, pangolins and a wealth of wildlife living cheek to jowl amidst us in one of the most densely populated countries in the world is a sign there is still hope and if each one of us does the right thing to help protect and conserve wildlife then we can certainly make a difference. Wildlife SOS invites people to be a part of the solution!
Interviewed by - Naveen Meena
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