At every wildlife research project site, WRCS also works closely with the local/tribal communities who have been living near the forested project sites for many generations. This is essential because these communities play an important role in protecting the biodiversity of their region. The cooperation & involvement of these communities in the protection of the adjoining forests and the wildlife therein is critical to the success of conservation efforts.

In the course of their work, the WRCS researchers repeatedly witnessed the severity of man-animal conflicts at their various project sites. One of the strategies WRCS has devised is to promote participation of local communities in conservation initiatives is by developing Community Initiative Programs.

In these Community-based Initiative Programs, WRCS is focusing on empowerment of women. Towards this end, they have been training local women and men to make handcrafted products. These handcrafted products are themed on the various wild species with whom they share the landscape.

All WRCS products are the outcome of their Community-based Initiative Programs set up in villages and tribal hamlets adjoining the WRCS project areas.

These programs  focus on empowerment of women. WRCS trains local women and men to make handcrafted products. These handcrafted products are themed on the various wild species with whom they share the landscape.

All WRCS products have been stitched and / or painted by local/tribal communities and their excellent work and skills can be seen in these products.

In the course of their work, the WRCS researchers repeatedly witnessed the severity of man-animal conflicts at various of their project sites.

These tribal communities face economic hardships due to damage of crops by elephants from adjoining forests that stray into their small agricultural farms.

WRCS’s project is supporting the coexistence of wildlife and these tribal communities. The elephant motif on many of the designs helps to develop a sense of kinship with elephants in the community members.

When you buy WRCS products, you support livelihood generation for these local communities. Part of the price you pay becomes an additional source of income that offsets some part of the economic loss caused due to crop damage by elephants and other wild animals.

About 10 years ago, WRCS conceived a tree plantation program in private lands belonging to local communities in the Koyna valley area of the forests of the Western Ghats.

This project ensured sustained plantation of local tree species over an area of 200+ hectares for over a decade and has been largely succesful.

Get a glimpse of this initiative in this video…

WRCS has been founded by a couple Jayant Kulkarni & Dr. Prachi Mehta, who are dedicated to achieving the long-term sustainability of India’s wildlife havens.

Jayant Kulkarni

A Chemical Engineer from IIT Bombay by training, turned into a conservationist.

Dr Prachi Mehta

Holds a Doctorate from the Wildlife Institute of India and is a committed wildlife researcher. She is now internationally recognised for her research in owls.