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Our Projects: Emergency response for Indian wildlife

WTI Sign Emergency response for Indian wildlife
Location: India
DSWF supported since: 1997
Project Summary: DSWF supports funds for rapid response to wildlife emergencies and crises situations in India through our partners the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
"Working with the Wildlife Trust of India over the years has proved that conservation partnerships are absolutely vital to saving wildlife – together we can make a huge difference. The value of the small rapid action grants is really proving that even a little can go a very long way."
Melanie Shepherd, CEO, DSWF

Latest News: DSWF and WTI help save a tusker from death sentence
Latest News : Helping to Prevent Elephant Deaths on India's Railways (see pdf below left)

The first WTI project supported by DSWF was an investigation programme into the illegal ivory trade smuggling routes through Asian countries to their end markets. The work resulted in vital intelligence and reports published for local authorities, governments and international parties concerned with elephant conservation.

DSWF then provided funds to train and equip every forest officer patrolling the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, which was then thought to provide sanctuary to c. 250 tigers and potentially still offers one of India’s long-term hopes for tiger survival because the mangrove swamps and salt water make it almost inhabitable for humans.

Over the years DSWF has also sponsored the annual David Shepherd Wildlife Prize awarded to any forest officer who has shown true excellence in the line of duty.

DSWF currently supports the Rapid Action Project. This provides grants for rapid emergency aid, for example rescue operations during flooding and providing road signs and speed bumps which have reduced casualties by half in some areas, including tigers. The project also enables responses to crisis situations, for example interventions on human / animal conflict which is a growing problem in and around India’s crowded wildlife reserves. These grants allow the WTI to respond immediately to crises, with little bureaucracy and no delay and is proving an invaluable lifeline in the battle to save India’s precious wildlife.

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