India's Breathtaking Biodiversity

India is a land of incredible diversity, boasting over 91,000 animal species and 40,000 types of plants. Amidst this rich tapestry of life, however, coexisting with the 1.4 billion human inhabitants is a complex challenge. Thankfully, Wildlife Seve, led by Dr. Krithi Karanth, has emerged as a beacon of hope and harmony.

Dr. Karanth's unwavering dedication revolves around resolving conflicts between humans and animals, ensuring a harmonious existence for both. By restoring farmers' livelihoods and safeguarding the freedom of wildlife, she has made incredible strides. Join us in this captivating narrative as we witness Dr. Karanth's multifaceted approach to achieving peace. Welcome to "Wild Harmony," an enchanting production by Wild Elements.

Understanding the Challenge: A Balancing Act

The true challenge lies in supporting a country like India, where 1.4 billion people must share space with wildlife on less than 5% of the land. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought our profound connection to nature to the forefront of our awareness. As a child, I spent my formative years traveling to various parks across India, witnessing the wonders of wildlife firsthand.

Unconventional Childhood Adventures

My childhood granted me extraordinary opportunities that most kids only dream of. From setting up camera traps to donning receivers and tracking tigers, my experiences shaped my passion for conservation. Over the past five decades, a collective effort by the Indian government, scientists, and conservationists has aimed to restore the nation's wildlife populations.

The Price of Recovery: Human-Wildlife Conflict

Unfortunately, this wildlife recovery has come at a cost—India now grapples with high levels of human-wildlife conflict. These conflicts manifest as crop losses, livestock predation, property damage, and, at times, even human injuries and fatalities. Through my research spanning the last decade, we have ventured into over 3,000 villages across India, engaging in conversations about human-wildlife conflict.

The Burden Borne by Women

In the communities we work with, women, in particular, bear the brunt of these conflicts. They endure the loss of crops, livestock, and injuries to their loved ones. The impact on their professional and daily lives is felt across the country. Astonishingly, over 80,000 to 100,000 incidents of human-wildlife conflict are reported to the Indian Government.

Beyond Documenting to Solving

After a decade of researching these conflicts, frustration compelled me to move beyond mere documentation. I realized that we needed tangible solutions. Thus, five years ago, we launched the Wild Seve Program, meaning "in service of." It functions as a toll-free helpline, allowing individuals to report encounters with leopards on their rooftops or tigers on their farms.

The Wild Seve team promptly arrives at the scene, assessing the damage and documenting the claims. This documentation ensures that government offices don't dismiss the claims outright. If we expect communities to coexist with wildlife, we must be there to support them in times of adversity.

Empowering Through Education: Wile Shaale

While working with these communities, we noticed a disheartening trend among the children living in wildlife-rich villages. Despite their proximity to magnificent creatures like tigers and elephants, these children either feared or remained indifferent towards them. In response, we launched Wile Shaale in 2018, meaning "school" in Kannada.

Wile Shaale is a conservation education program implemented in schools near wildlife reserves across India. Its purpose is to instill empathy for wildlife, inspire care for these remarkable beings and their habitats, and equip children with basic safety measures in case ofencountering conflicts.

Pandemic Realizations: Wild Surakshe

As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized that addressing human-wildlife conflict alone was insufficient. Deforestation, encroachment into remote areas, and wildlife hunting and poaching create environments where zoonotic diseases can thrive. COVID-19 serves as a stark example, but numerous other diseases lurk in the interface between humans and animals.

To tackle this issue, we launched Wild Surakshe, meaning "safety." This program focuses on public safety and community outreach, collaborating with frontline government staff. Its aim is to educate people living in close proximity to wildlife about the transmission of zoonotic diseases and how to ensure the long-term safety of both humans and wildlife.

A Hopeful Future: Conservation Awakening

Moving forward, it is imperative that we recognize the far-reaching impact of human activities on our planet. The power to effect change lies within our collective awareness. As a woman in the field of science and conservation, I have witnessed tremendous progress. However, our abilities, passion, and commitment are still met with skepticism. This perception must evolve.

Hope abounds as more individuals express concern for wildlife than ever before. The power of storytelling and the increasing involvement of citizen scientists in research are propelling a wave of conservation action. It is through this combined effort that we can protect the wildlife and precious ecosystems we hold dear.