Dear First name / friend,

 

August at CWS was all about amplifying voices and widening our impact.

 

From rallying support through our fundraiser for Wild Shaale to sharing stories that matter across leading media platforms, this month was a testament to the power of outreach and community. Our team also engaged in thought-provoking events, sparking conversations on science, conservation, and the role of people in protecting the wild.

 

In this edition of Into the Wild, we bring you highlights of our media features, updates from the field, and a look at how your support is helping us shape a more connected and conservation-conscious world.

In India, wildlife face growing threats, and human-wildlife conflict remains one of the most pressing challenges. For over two decades, our CEO and McNulty Prize Winner Dr. Krithi K. Karanth has studied these conflicts and identified a critical gap: while policies existed, families on the ground received little real support to recover and rebuild.

 

In response, Dr. Karanth transformed the Centre for Wildlife Studies into a leader in community-driven conservation, empowering families to recover, enabling farmers to adopt sustainable practices, and fostering coexistence between people and wildlife. Watch Dr. Karanth’s inspiring talk at the Resnick Aspen Action Forum here.

We are proud to share that our CEO, Dr. Krithi K. Karanth, has been promoted by a faculty vote, to Adjunct Professor at Duke University. This milestone builds on her long-standing association with Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, where she earned her Ph.D., and underscores her commitment to advancing global academic collaboration in conservation science.

 

Through this role, Dr. Karanth continues to bridge research, education, and practice, inspiring the next generation of conservation scientists while strengthening CWS’s international partnerships.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Danny Tobin to the CWS community as an Affiliate Scientist! Dr. Tobin recently earned his Ph.D. from Duke University with a dissertation titled “Three Essays on Sustainable Development Interventions: Can Projects Catalyze Better Systems for People and Planet?” His advisor was Dr. Alex Pfaff, and Dr. Krithi K. Karanth served on his committee. Part of his doctoral research was conducted in India in collaboration with CWS, strengthening the academic partnership that continues today.

 

Dr. Tobin is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow through a joint partnership between Duke University and the World Bank, where he explores innovative solutions at the intersection of development and conservation. We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Tobin and look forward to the fresh perspectives and expertise he brings to our work. To know more about the doctoral program at CWS, click here.

We are pleased to share that Dr. Krithi K. Karanth, CEO, was recently featured in an in-depth interview by The American Bazaar. In the conversation she reflects on nearly three decades of conservation leadership and how Wild Seve, Wild Shaale, Wild Surakshe, and Wild Carbon continue to transform communities and empower coexistence. Dr. Karanth also discusses how the McNulty Prize not only honors our work but fuels our drive to bring wildlife to the forefront of global environmental discourse. She highlights the evolving landscape of conservation, emphasizing the role of new technologies like AI in wildlife monitoring and the urgent need to tackle illegal hunting and trade with innovative partnerships. We invite you to read the full interview here.

We are delighted to share that our CEO, Dr. Krithi K. Karanth, has been featured in the latest WINGS Women of Discovery newsletter celebrating her recognition as a 2025 John P. McNulty Prize winner. The feature highlights Dr. Karanth’s vision to go beyond research, empowering communities living closest to wildlife and transforming human-wildlife conflict zones into models of coexistence. It also spotlights the Centre for Wildlife Studies’ mission to rewild landscapes while creating economic opportunities for local people.

A new episode of the Some Like It Wild podcast, released on 29th July 2025, features Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, Emeritus Director, CWS. In this exclusive conversation, he traces his personal journey from engineering to ecology, offering rare insights into India’s wild past and the making of modern wildlife science. Listen now here.

An article published in The Times of India on 31st July 2025 features Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, Emeritus Director of CWS, critiquing Cambodia’s plan to reintroduce tigers from India. Drawing on decades of experience, he warns that without restoring prey populations, enforcing protection, and avoiding political shortcuts, the effort is unlikely to succeed. To read the full article, click here.

An article published in Deccan Herald reviews the documentary Project Tiger, which traces India’s decades-long struggle to save its national animal. The film features expert voices including Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, Emeritus Director of CWS, and offers a sobering look at poaching, politics, and conservation. To read the full article, click here.

A new episode of the Fur Real podcast, released on 5th August 2025, features Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, Emeritus Director, CWS. In this episode, he shares his experience of studying and protecting tigers over decades. The conversation also includes insights on their behaviour, and how the species is integral to the ecosystem around it. Listen now here.

In an article published by Pratidin Times on 2nd August 2025, Dr. K. Ullas Karanth's estimates on a tiger's annual meat requirements in Kaziranga National Park were quoted. The article discusses how the rise in tiger populations may not be supported by an adequate prey base in the park. To read the full article, click here.

An article published in The Hindu on 8th August 2025 features our latest study led by Sikha Hariharan, Doctoral Fellow at CWS, with co-authors Yogita Karpate, Dr. Karen A. Kainer, Dr. Krithi K. Karanth from CWS, and Dr. Divya Vasudev. The study examines patterns in the use of non-timber forest products across eight forested landscapes in Karnataka and Kerala, revealing a significant decline in extraction over the past decade. To read the full article, click here.

On 12th August 2025, The New Indian Express featured a conversation with Program Manager - Elephant Program, Aneesh Sankarankutty, tracing how childhood encounters sparked his lifelong love for elephants. Aneesh also reflects on his journey from engineering to photography and wildlife research. Read the full story here.

An article published in The Hindu on 5th August 2025 features one of our latest studies led by Dr. Dincy Mariyam, with co-authors Dr. Sumeet Gulati and Dr. Krithi K. Karanth from the Centre for Wildlife Studies. The study, part of her PhD at CWS and Manipal Academy of Higher Education that she got in 2024, explores how wildlife conflict, education, and income influence landowners’ attitudes toward living near forests around Bandipur and Nagarahole. To read the full article, click here.

On 17th August, Dr. Sruthi Unnikrishnan, Postdoctoral Fellow and Doctoral Program Manager at CWS, delivered an engaging lecture at Science Gallery Bengaluru as part of their ongoing exhibition “Calorie.” Her talk, titled “Food, Foraging and the Fabric of Social Insects,” explored the fascinating world of insect societies and their intricate relationships with food systems. The session, followed by an interactive Ask Me Anything (AMA) segment, sparked lively discussion and drew numerous thought-provoking questions from the audience.

On 12th August 2025 on the occasion of World Elephant Day, Aneesh Sankarankutty, Program Manager - Elephant Program, spoke at the 'Matriarch' seminar organized by the HUME Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology in Wayanad. The event brought together passionate individuals from the Forest department, people working in nature education, wildlife, media and agricultural sectors, all united by a love for elephants and conservation. Aneesh led a session on "Solitary and Social Lives of Bull Elephants" exploring the unique behaviors and ecological roles these gentle giants play in the ecosystem. To learn more about the work we do at CWS, click here.

On August 12, World Elephant Day, Akash Padhan, Research Fellow at CWS, was invited to give a talk at a media workshop on “Ethical Wildlife Journalism” organized by the Redhakhol Forest Division in collaboration with Earth Crusaders Organization. The workshop explored how journalists can report human-wildlife conflict in ways that engage communities positively and promotes a constructive approach toward elephants.  

 

Akash’s talk highlighted elephant biology, behavior, and their role as a keystone species, reviewed the status and threats facing elephants in Odisha, and examined human-elephant conflict, impacts, and urgent need for mitigation. He emphasized community-driven solutions, from awareness and government compensation schemes to technology and habitat restoration. He also highlighted the urgent need to protect elephants in Odisha while ensuring the safety and livelihood security of local communities.

In July, Ishika Ramakrishna, Doctoral Fellow at CWS, Luja Guju, and Maria Anjum, Research Fellows at CWS, represented the organization at the International Primatological Society Congress 2025 in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The team shared findings from research conducted in Assam since 2022, exploring the complex relationships between humans and nonhuman primates in shared landscapes.

 

Their presentations highlighted a range of topics, including cultural ecosystem services, coexistence dynamics, and the ethology of endangered primates like the Western Hoolock Gibbon and Golden Langur. Ishika co-led a workshop on using folklore as a tool for ecological knowledge-sharing in conservation, while Maria presented her MSc research on Golden Langurs, conducted at NCBS under Ishika’s guidance. The team’s active participation at IPS reflects CWS’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary conservation science and fostering global dialogue on human–wildlife coexistence.

“In Barekuri, a cluster of 21 villages in Assam, a small population of western hoolock gibbons has lived in close proximity with people for decades. Over time, the gibbons became habituated to human presence, largely because villagers began feeding them. This practice created bonds and fascinating relationships between people and gibbons, which we have closely observed through our work. Yet, while feeding reflected care and affection, it also carried risks. The food offered was often high in sugar and low in nutrition, raising health concerns for the gibbons and the potential for zoonotic disease transmission.

 

What was striking, however, was the deep commitment of the community to the wellbeing of the gibbons. When we shared our findings with the Amar Holou Sangathan—a collective of local stakeholders and well-wishers of the gibbons—they responded with openness and resolve. They were eager to explore alternatives that would safeguard the gibbons’ health without weakening the bonds that have long held people and apes together.

 

Earlier this year, we celebrated the gibbons with the Sangathan through exhibits, photo stories, games, folklore, screenings and interactive activities. It became an occasion – called Holour Jogot, or World of Gibbons – not only for joy but also for reflection. Sangathan members used the event to spread awareness, particularly among children, about reducing feeding practices. The same care that once found expression in hand-feeding is now being redirected toward ensuring the gibbons thrive in healthier ways. Watching the community act with such unity and purpose was deeply moving. It reinforced a sense of optimism in our team for the gibbons’ future in Barekuri.”

 

- Ishika Ramakrishna, Doctoral Fellow

"For Rylan Fernandes, a Class VII student from GHS Fatorpa, the Wild Shaale program has been a game-changer in how he views wildlife. One lesson, in particular, stood out, Module 4, which explored what to do when encountering a snake.

 

Before the session, Rylan admitted he would panic at the mere sight of a snake, believing the only solution was to run or call others to kill it. But through the program, he learned a different approach: stay calm, maintain a safe distance, and never harm the snake. He discovered that snakes do not chase humans and only react when threatened. Today, Rylan feels confident and empowered to respond wisely if he comes across a snake. His story is a powerful reminder of how knowledge can replace fear with understanding and pave the way for coexistence."

 

- Krutika Jaggal, Wild Shaale Educator

Mariyam, D., Gulati, S. & Karanth, K. K. (2025). Contradictions in Conservation: Education, Income, and the Desire to Live Near Forest Ecosystems. Environmental Management. 1-11. 10.1007/s00267-025-02233-y. 

 

Living near forests is not always easy, especially when wildlife conflicts arise. A new study reveals the impact in numbers: 116% less enjoyment, 67% less comfort. To read more, click here.

Hariharan, S., Karpate, Y., Kainer, K. A., Karanth, K. K., & Vasudev, D. (2025). Drivers of spatial and temporal patterns of non-timber forest product extraction in Southern India. Global Ecology and Conservation, e03768.

 

In the Western Ghats of Karnataka & Kerala, over 60% of households harvest Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) like fuelwood, fruits, and medicinal plants. A new study reveals who depends on these resources, why tribal communities are twice as likely to collect them, and how changing policies, market links, and even schemes are reshaping forest use. The takeaway? Differentiating between domestic and commercial harvest is key to balancing livelihoods with conservation. To read more, click here.

This month, we began an exciting new chapter for Wild Shaale, bringing the magic of wildlife stories into classrooms across forest-fringe communities.

 

Through a special partnership with Pratham Books, we are bringing packs of 15 beautifully illustrated wildlife storybooks into the hands of 20,000+ students in 500 schools across 5 states. These stories, from How to Be an Otter to The Adventures of Philautus Frog, turn animals into friends and spark empathy, curiosity, and pride in India’s wild heritage.

 

We have already raised 46% of our goal and can reach 230 of 500 schools, but there is still a long way to go. ₹5,500 supports one school, join us in creating libraries without walls.

 

Click here to give the gift of stories today!

August was a month of voices, speaking, sharing, and inspiring. With every story told and every hand raised for conservation, we grow stronger together. Thank you for being part of this journey, the wild is waiting, and so are we.