Wildlife Crime Prevention Assistance in Karnataka

Karnataka boasts a rich biodiversity and is home to the country’s second-largest population of tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus). The state also hosts the highest number of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in India, thus underscoring the significance of its diverse flora and fauna. Home to such vital flagship species, Karnataka has also steadily witnessed an increase in the instances of a range of threats including wildlife crime. For the past decade, WTI has been working with the Karnataka Forest Department across five prominent PAs/tiger reserves – Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, BRT Tiger Reserve, Bhadra Tiger Reserve and Kali Tiger Reserve. These PAs support over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, and 80 species of reptiles and amphibians.

Snared tigress at Nagarahole TR | Photograph by Hareesha Shastri/WTI

Over the years, the forest fringes of Karnataka have been plagued by the scourge of snaring, set up by poachers to trap wild animals. Snares are hunting devices with a noose-like structure set to close in on any part of the animal that crosses it. Unable to escape, the animal’s struggle only causes the noose to constrict further, leading to a slow and agonizing death.

Under this project, the WTI team has been conducting regular anti-snare walks, with the frontline forest staff of Karnataka Forest Department, along the fringe areas of the target 5 PAs, mentioned above. The removal of every snare leads to saving an animal’s life, thus eventually contributing to the forest ecosystem. The project aims to protect the tiger and other co-predators, and their prey base from the dangers of snaring, jaw traps, leg traps, etc. in collaboration with the Forest Department and local communities.

WTI also aims to enhance the capabilities of frontline forest staff in wildlife crime prevention. The comprehensive training program covers wildlife crime scene investigation techniques, evidence collection, reporting, preservation of evidence, and presenting cases in the Court of Law, among many other important aspects of preventing wildlife crime. These trainings are considered to be morale-boosting, confidence-building exercises targeted at empowering frontline forest officials.

Training on wildlife crime prevention by WTI | Photo by Karnataka Forest Department

WTI also provides legal assistance to the Karnataka Forest Department in handling wildlife crime cases. The legal consultants aid the forest officials to properly document the cases to ensure that there is no margin of error which may lead to the acquittal of the perpetrator. The project is focused on prominent PAs that have a history of wildlife crime and negative human-animal interactions. The work that we do aims at reducing wildlife crime instances targeting flagship species in and around the 5 key PAs of Karnataka. Attributing to this, WTI has also introduced a centralised database management system focused on institutionalising and organising information on wildlife crime, criminals, wildlife mortality, etc in Karnataka known as Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK).

To this date, WTI has dismantled 4520 snares from across 5 PAs of Karnataka and has trained and equipped 573 frontline forest officers in wildlife crime prevention techniques and methodologies. Our legal associates have assisted the Forest Department in nearly 450 cases related to wildlife crime. Furthermore, 119 people have been mobilised across 18 villages and our team continues to regularly interact with them to empower them as a part of the Village Vigilance Volunteers network.

PARTNERS: Karnataka Forest Department

For more information about the project: debobroto@wti.org.in