Wildlife Research And Conservation Society

WRCS has been actively conserving Melghat Tiger Reserve, India's largest, since 2012. It focuses on community involvement and scientific monitoring, with key aspects like camera trap monitoring, sustainable resource use, livelihood generation, and environmental education. Collaborating with the Forest Department and partners like WWF-India and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, WRCS is dedicated to preserving Melghat's biodiversity and engaging local communities in conservation efforts.

WRCS is actively addressing human-elephant conflicts in various regions. In Odisha, it implements a Community-based Conflict Management approach, focusing on crop protection and early elephant alert systems. In North Kanara, Karnataka, CBCM empowers farmers with tools like trip alarms and bee-hive fences to reduce crop losses. It also conducts inter-state workshops to share these practices. In Andhra Pradesh, WRCS assesses elephant populations and works towards tri-state cooperation to manage these animals across political boundaries. Its goal is to minimize human-elephant conflicts while equipping communities and the Forest Department to handle these situations effectively.

The Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) conducts research programs aimed at understanding and conserving various owl species in different regions. In Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, it studies the ecological co-variates of Forest Owlets and other owl species to better protect them. Radio telemetry is used to track owls' spatial and temporal movements, providing crucial information for conservation efforts. In the Khandwa Forest Division of Madhya Pradesh, WRCS integrates ecological research and habitat protection to conserve the endangered Forest Owlet and its habitat, with a focus on community-based conservation. In Nandurbar District, Maharashtra, WRCS conducts surveys and research to assess the distribution and status of Forest Owlets in human-dominated landscapes. These projects are supported by various organisations and Government departments to protect these owl species and their habitats.

The Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) is engaged in a significant project to conserve private forests in the Koyna-Chandoli corridor, a crucial wildlife corridor within the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. Private forests, known as Mālki forests, play a vital role in providing ecosystem services like soil conservation, regulating watershed runoff, and conserving biodiversity. WRCS is working in 18 villages with a total area of 9300 hectares, of which 55% is private forests. These forests are currently managed unsustainably, leading to degradation. WRCS aims to promote sustainable forest management practices, including tree plantation, bamboo cultivation, and income-generating activities like beekeeping. By conserving Mālki forests, the project contributes to strengthening the wildlife corridor and serves as a model for private forest conservation in the Western Ghats, benefitting both the environment and local communities.

The Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) focuses on preserving wildlife corridors, vital connections between separated animal populations. One such corridor is the Satpura-Melghat corridor, uniting the Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves. Spanning 9000 sq km, it features hilly terrain with teak forests and is home to tribal communities dependent on forests. In 2021, WRCS conducted an occupancy survey to study wildlife distribution and threats in the corridor. The survey involved a grid-based approach, collecting data on animal signs, habitat, and human-related threats. Leopards and sloth bears were common, while tigers were less frequent. Supported by volunteers and organisations, this survey contributes to corridor conservation.