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(April 05, 2024) Dr. Aaron Savio Lobo and Dr. Avadhoot Velankar from WCS-India's Marine Programme participated in the national consultative workshop on the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME Phase 2) project held in Chennai from 21st to 23rd March 2024. It was jointly organised by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) and IUCN, and supported by GOI, FAO, GEF, and NORAD.  Over 80 stakeholders from various government units and NGOs came together to share i...

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(April 05, 2024) Walls come down to make way for elephants | Mongabay Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL) is demolishing its boundary wall in Deopahar, Assam following a Gauhati High Court order to restore an elephant corridor. The wall's obstruction has sparked a decade-long legal battle, with environmental activists like Rohit Choudhury advocating for its removal. The victory is hailed as a significant win for wildlife conservation, allowing free movement for elephants and preserving the biodiversity of the ...

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(March 22, 2024) Arunachal tribe donates land for critically endangered songbird Bugun Liocichla | Deccan Herald Buguns, a tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh, donated 1,470 hectares of forest land to the state forest department to protect the critically endangered Bugun Liocichla. With only 14 individuals spotted, conservation efforts are critical. This effort marks a significant step towards protecting this unique species and promoting tourism.   Wildcats found in India gain international conse...

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(March 18, 2024) The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.   Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India:  In a joint operation by Mizoram Forest Department and Assam Rifles, 49 exotic wild animals were seized in Champhai. The media report mentions the species seized, which include Solomon Cockatoo (10), Posque’s Parrot (2), Marmoset Monkey (2), and unidentified turtle (9), snake (10), lizard (16) species. Th...

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(March 15, 2024) Rehabilitating trafficked star tortoises using genetic intelligence | Mongabay Recent research reveals two genetically distinct populations of Indian star tortoises, challenging previous assumptions and indicating moderate to high genetic diversity. This insight can guide rehabilitation efforts by releasing trafficked tortoises into habitats where they are genetically suited, enhancing their chances of survival.  Human-wildlife conflicts: Karnataka, Kerala ink pact | Hindustan Times...

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(March 14, 2024) Dr. Aaron Savio Lobo, Head of the Marine programme at WCS-India participated in the WCS Global Shark Conservation Meet held in Belize between 26 February – 1 March 2024. He presented the overall strategy of the marine programme in India and provided an update on the programme´s shark and ray work in India. Approximately 50 participants attended the meeting, including WCS marine representatives, global marine directors, partner NGOs, and the IUCN SCC Shark Specialist Group Chai...

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(March 12, 2024) The following content is collected from public information and does not represent the views of WCS-India.  Important Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) news from India: 1. Forest departments from the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha conducted a seizure of 2.7 kg pangolin scales and one live pangolin at Nagalbod village, along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha state border, near the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. Three poachers were arrested; Link 2. Odisha Forest Department seized 132 parakee...

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(March 11, 2024) Dr. Anant Pande and R. Surya from our Marine program participated in the ‘Interdepartmental Coordination Workshop on Dugong Conservation’ organised by the Thanjavur Forest Division on 1st March 2024. Anant presented a talk titled "Exploring Emerging Tools for Dugong and Seagrass Conservation in Palk Bay" at the workshop. The workshop was attended by over 50 representatives from various departments such as the Police, Tourism, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Marine Police and s...

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(March 08, 2024) North Bengal comes together to protect Hornbill species | The Statesman  North Bengal organised a three-day workshop with participants from the region and neighbouring areas to create a conservation plan for five hornbill species, three of them globally threatened. The plan includes strategies for population surveys, habitat protection, community involvement, and awareness initiatives, uniting officials, scientists, and community members to address the vulnerability of hornbills in the a...

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(March 04, 2024) WCS-India's Counter Wildlife Trafficking team in collaboration with the Meghalaya Forest Department organised a two-day Wildlife Crime Detection & Law Enforcement workshop from 27th - 28th February 2024. The workshop delved into legal aspects, covering an overview of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and its recent amendments, insights into CITES, and a session on identifying commonly traded species. The sessions were led by Advocate Lovish Sharma from the New Delhi High Court and CWT...

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