The Asiatic Lion is probably India’s finest conservation miracles. With less than 100 individuals remaining in the wild in the 1960s, the population has skyrocketed with an estimated 600-800 lions roaming the forests of Saurashtra. In 2018, over 50 lions were lost due to an outbreak of the canine distemper disease. Moreover, the range of the Gir li…

In Episode 5 of The Think Wildlife Podcast, I am joined by Mayank Shukla, Anshita Das and Arjun Srivathsa from The Dhole Project. Launched in 2016, The Dhole Project aims to conduct research on Asiatic wild dogs or ‘dholes’ to better understand their ecological requirements and protect their populations in India. The dhole is one of India’s most ch…

In August 2022, I had the very good fortune to explore the mountains of Dras, Kargil in search of one of India’s rarest terrestrial mammals - the Himalayan Brown Bear. Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, there are less than 500 individuals remaining in the wild scattered across Western Himalayas and the Karakoram Mountains. Drass …

In Episode 3 of this season, I am joined by Dr. Sophie Rassmusen, a Research Fellow at University of Oxford and Linacre College Research Associate at WildCRU. Popularly referred to as Dr. Hedgehog, Sophie is at the forefront of hedgehog conservation and research. Unfortunately, scientific research from several European countries indicate that the p…

Owls are amongst the most ecologically and culturally important group of birds in India. They act as biocontrol agents due to their predation of rodent and insect pests in agricultural and urban landscapes. Not only does this reduce the dependence of pesticides in agricultural areas but also preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases. Owls, especia…

Welcome to Season 3 of The Think Wildlife Podcast. It has been almost two years since I began the Podcast and have had the good fortune of interviewing nearly 100 conservationists around the world. This season consists of another 50 episodes, with topics ranging from nature tech and bioacoustics to conservation filmmaking, the illegal wildlife trad…

The Climate Crisis is imminent. However, despite the urgency of the crisis, there is still a severe lack of diversity and inclusivity in the climate and conservation sector. Women continue to be marginalized from the political sphere because of gender stereotypes, lack of access, and socio-economic-structural barriers. Tackling this is the organiza…

Tasmania, the land of the endangered Tasmanian Devil and the extinct Tasmanian tiger, is one of Australia’s most biodiverse regions. Various species of possums, wallabies, seals, penguins, and platypus roam the island state. Unfortunately, the region’s rich ecosystem is under severe threat from habitat clearance and degradation, amplified by the sp…

The Daintree Rainforest, located on the northeastern coast of Queensland, is amongst the most pristine rainforests globally. Over 10 million years older than the Amazon Rainforest, the Daintree is part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland. This forms the largest contiguous rainforest in Australia. Countless endemic species of avifauna are found in the …

The Grevy’s Zebra is the largest extant species of equid in the world. Unfortunately, the species is listed as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. With less than 2,000 wild individuals found in pockets of Kenya and Ethiopia, the Grevy’s Zebra is the most threatened of the three zebra species. In the 20th Century, hunting for their skins was the prim…

Coraf Reefs around the world are under severe threat. It is estimated that around 10% of the global coral reefs are dead while about 60% are under severe threat due to anthropogenic pressure. Climate change remains the primary threat to coral reefs around the world, with increasing sea temperatures catalyzing coral bleaching, which results in the d…

Nature forms the foundation of the world’s economy. Nature-based solutions focused on climate mitigation contribute about USD 170 billion worth of ecosystem services to the global economy. However, the dependencies of the nature of the global economy and the related risks and opportunities to the economy have not received much attention from corpor…

In a previous episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, we briefly touched upon the role of artificial intelligence and biacoustic monitoring in wildlife conservation. On a similar note, in this episode, I interview Professor Ed Mitchard, to discuss the role of remote sensing in forest conservation Through the use of satellites, remote Sensing allows …

Over the last few decades, the world has witnessed a technological revolution to tackle the climate crisis. However, more recently, there has been a growing consensus about the role of nature and nature-based solutions in tackling, not only the Three Planetary Crisis but also various pressing societal issues, such as poverty. The goals of nature-ba…

The Penguin is amongst the most unique taxa of birds in the world. These flightless, aquatic birds are highly adept swimmers, having adapted to spending half their lives underwater. Penguins, with the aid of flippers and their streamlined bodies are known to swim over 20 kilometres an hour in seas while hunting for prey. There are currently between…

‘If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.’ Sir David Attenborough. From pollination and seed dispersal to pest control and nutrient cycling, insects and other invertebrates provide human…

Africa’s wilderness has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world. Despite its exploding population and rapidly growing economies, the continent has often been the flagbearer of conservation globally. This ranges from the conservation of elephants and rhinos in southern Africa to the creation of Kavango Zambezi, the second-lar…

Collaboration is essential for conservation. The complexity of conservation challenges is often multifold and requires the involvement and cooperation of multiple stakeholders. Additionally, the sharing of resources, particularly funding, and technical expertise from a variety of sectors, immensely contribute to the success of conservation initiati…

Meet the Pangolin. The world’s most trafficked mammal. Pangolins are also known as scaly anteaters due to the protective keratin scales covering their skins. Unfortunately, these protective keratin scales are leading to the pangolin’s downfall. Keratin is in high demand in China and Vietnam (the usual suspects) for traditional Chinese Medicine and …

The Amazon River Dolphin, known locally as the “Boto”, is the largest species of river dolphin in the world. The species is also the most widespread river dolphin, covering six different countries in South America. Unfortunately, the Amazon River Dolphin is classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. Commercial fishing remains the primary thre…

Globally, there are 15 species of cranes spread across all continents baring South America and Antarctica. With eight species, East Asia has the highest crane diversity. A few species of crane, such as the Siberian and Demosille crane, are known to migrate thousands of kilometers to avoid the harsh winter months of Siberia. Across their range, cran…

After tigers and lions, the jaguar is the third largest species of wild felid and the only species of the Panthera genus (big cats) to be found in Americas. The current range of jaguars extends from southern USA, across Mexico and Central America to the Amazonian rainforest. In Central and South America, jaguars inhabit tropical rainforests, decidu…

Listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List, The African Lion is one of the most threatened species in the world. The population of this regal carnivore has dropped drastically from over 200,000 individuals a century ago to approximately 24,000 today. Almost half of this population is found outside protected areas, often in human-dominated landscap…

Once upon a time, the Great Indian Bustard was close to becoming India’s National Bird. However, the species is now considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, with less than 100 individuals remaining in the wild. The species is predominantly found in Rajasthan, though sightings do occur across the Deccan Plateau. Collisions with windmil…

One of the most charismatic species of the rainforests of south-east Asia is the orangutan. The orangutan is the only wild species of Great Ape found in Asia, with the remaining three, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos, found in Africa. Until 1996, the orangutan was considered one individual species. However, since then the species has been divide…

One of Asia’s most elusive predators is the Clouded Leopard. Until 2006, the term clouded leopard referred to one ubiquitous species found across the Eastern Himalayas, mainland Southeast Asia, and the islands of Borneo and Sumatara. However, extensive genetic analysis of various populations revealed two sister species of clouded leopard. The first…

The highly biodiverse island Borneo forms one of the largest remaining intact forests of Southeast Asia. Also, the world’s third largest island, Borneo is a stronghold for various charismatic and endangered megafauna species, including orangutans, clouded leopards, elephants, proboscis monkeys and sunbear. Unfortunately, the rainforests of south-ea…

The Eastern Ghats is amongst the most biodiverse regions in India. This discontinuous mountain range is spread predominantly across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. A study conducted by ATREE found over 200 species of birds in the Eastern Ghats, which includes the endemic Jerdon’s Courser. The region also has healthy populations of…

Dugongs are amongst Asia’s most charismatic marine mammals. The species is often referred to as "sea cows" as their diet predominantly consists of seagrass. The range of the dugongs is fragmented across the warm coastal waters of the western Pacific Ocean to the eastern coast of Africa. In India, their range extends across the Western and Southern …

India is a wildlife paradise. Despite being the largest democracy and fastest-growing economy in the world, wildlife has recovered throughout the country. From tigers of Madhya Pradesh to hornbills and Amur falcons of Nagaland and the lions of Gujarat, India is home to conservation miracles. Capturing these stories is RoundGlass Sustain. With the a…

The Markhor is one of Central and South Asia's most charismatic mountain ungulates. The species is scattered across the Karakoram Range, Afghanistan, and the western Himalayas. The Markhor, often called the “Screw-horned Goat” is the national animal of Pakistan. In Persian and Pahto languages, the word “mārkhor” translates as "snake-eater" highligh…

With over three decades of conservation experience, Dr. Sanjay Molur, is one of India’s leading wildlife biologists. He was a part of the team of scientists which formulated the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Since 1995, Dr. Molur has conducted the status assessments of over 10,000 (sub)species and ecosystems. He was amongst the earliest sc…

Neha Sinha was once an environmental reporter at The Indian Express. However, she is now one of India’s leading conservationists. Throughout her career, Neha has utilized her aptitude for communication and advocacy to improve policy and safeguard India’s precious wildlife. One of the most prominent campaigns Neha has supported is the Amur Falcon Ca…

The Western Ghats is one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. Older than the Himalayas, the Western Ghats is home to at least 508 species of birds, 227 reptile species, and 139 mammal species. The region is home to the largest population of Asiatic elephants, with an estimated population of around 11,000 individuals across eight distinct popula…

The sloth bear is the most widespread of the four bear species found in India. More popularly known as “Baloo” from the Jungle Book, sloth bears are found across a large variety of habitats below an altitude of 1,500m, such as tropical forests, scrubland and grasslands. Sloth bears are regionally extinct in Bangladesh and [are listed as “Vulnerable…

Over the last few years, the world has celebrated the recovery of various species of large carnivores from the cusps of extinction. This includes the brown bears and gray wolves of North America and Europe, the tigers of South Asia, and the lions and leopards of Africa and Asia. However, much of this recovery has occurred despite rampant habitat fr…

Once upon a time, Scotland was amongst the most biodiverse regions of Europe. However, over the last few centuries, Scotland, like the rest of the United Kingdom, lost most of its biodiversity. Megafauna, such as the European bison, brown bear, gray wolf, and European beavers, were all hunted to extinction. Moreover, the Scottish Highlands have als…

Over the last few years, Artificial Intelligence has evolved immensely. Not surprisingly, advanced AI and machine learning algorithms are increasingly being incorporated in sectors across the world. One particular sector, which AI is revolutionizing is wildlife conservation! With an increasingly urgent demand for effective and affordable conservati…

India is home to over 65 million free-ranging dogs. The explosion in free-ranging dog populations around the country has stemmed from poor waste management, uncomprehensive pet ownership laws, and the vulture crisis. Unfortunately, this has led to an ecological crisis. Countless endangered species, such as the Great Indian Bustard, Black-Necked Cra…

Wild Earth Allies protects vital areas of our natural world for the benefit of wildlife, habitats, and people by inspiring collaborative action. For decades, the organization has partnered with grassroots conservationists to conserve some of the most at-risk species around the world. These include endangered Asian elephants in Cambodia, critically …

On this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, I interview Markus Hofmeyr, who is the Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund (RRF). Launched in 2020 by the Wildlife Conservation Network, the RRF aims to protect rhinos from wildlife crime while also restoring their landscapes. The RRF is working towards the conservation of all five species of rhinos ac…

One species of megafauna particularly impacted by climate change, is the polar bear. Considered “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List, less than 31,000 individual bears roam the Arctic and surrounding regions of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Svalbard. As Polar Bears are pagophilic (species that live on ice), they are severely threatened by the…

The African Wild Dog, more aptly known as the Painted Dog, is the largest wild canid species found in the entire African continent. The species is one of the rarest large carnivores in the world with the population of the species crashing from around 500,000 a hundred years ago, to an estimated 6,600 adult individuals today. It is for this reason t…

Deforestation is one of the leading threats to biodiversity globally. The world is losing over 10 billion trees annually. Over half the three trillion trees on our planet have been lost. But why should you care? Because YOU are a victim of deforestation. Over 1.6 billion people directly rely on forests for subsistence, in the form of food, fuel, me…

The cheetah is symbolic of the African wilderness. However, once upon a time, the world’s fastest mammal, used to roam the plains of Asia, with their range extending from the Middle East across to northern parts of India. Unfortunately, the Asiatic Cheetah subspecies is now considered “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN Red List. Reports estimate, …

The Fishing Cat is a medium sized cat, discontinuously distributed across South and Southeast Asia. Currently, their range extends from India to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. In India, the species is found in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal. In fact, the fishing cat is the State animal of West Bengal. A s…

The story of the Bengal Tiger is probably the pinnacle of India’s conservation miracles over the last few decades, especially following the enactment of Project Tiger. In fact, over the last 15 years, India’s tiger population has more than doubled. While this is promising, much work remains, as habitats continue to become fragmented, which fosters …

Sacred Groves are amongst the finest examples of in-situ conservation. Often as large as 500 hectares, Sacred Groves are undisturbed and communally protected forest patches that are dedicated to local folk deities. Social traditions which embody both social and ecological values encourage the preservation of Sacred Groves. As a result, these groves…

India is amongst the most biodiverse countries in the world, with a plethora of habitats, including tropical forests, grasslands, arid deserts, mangroves, and deciduous mountain forests. However, while much of India’s megafauna species have recovered miraculously from the brink of extinction, a major issue looms large. That is the sustainable use o…

Ecosystems around India are becoming increasingly fragmented. This is particularly concerning for megafauna species, such as tigers and elephants. Landscape connectivity is a vital component of megafauna conservation in India. This is because the dispersal of megafauna outside of existing reserves is critical to maintaining the genetic diversity of…