WII conducts 10th Wildlife Conservation Course for Enthusiasts
Published: Mar 20, 2026
By TIOLCorplaws News Service
NEW DELHI, MAR 20, 2026: THE Wildlife Institute of India (WII), an autonomous institution under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), conducted the tenth Wildlife Conservation course for the wider public from March 2-11, 2026, with participation of 15 wildlife enthusiasts. Since the inception of the course in 2012, a total of 148 participants from diverse professional backgrounds have undergone training under this initiative.
This specialised course for wildlife enthusiasts is in addition to the range of professional training programmes that WII regularly conducts for forest officers, field managers, researchers and veterinarians, to strengthen wildlife conservation capacity in the country. This course gives an exposure on Wildlife Conservation for the wider public and enthusiasts, who have had no formal training or experience in wildlife biology and conservation.
Participants in the course have represented a wide range of professions, including armed forces, medical doctors, engineers, IT professionals, finance and wealth management, corporates, journalists and media personnel, veterinarians, academia, conservation volunteers and students.
The ten-day programme included four days of lecture-based sessions by WII faculty and experienced researchers. The sessions covered Indian biogeography, wildlife conservation issues and strategies across the country, science and management of large mammal populations, illegal trade of wildlife parts and the role of forensic science, managing wild animals in distress, and the importance of citizen science initiatives.
The participants were also taken on a five-day field visit to Lansdowne Forest Division near Kotdwar in Uttarakhand. During the visit, they were exposed to natural history observations of the forest and wildlife, jungle crafts, practical aspects of wildlife management and conservation challenges, as well as the dependency of local communities on forests.
The valedictory programme was held on March 11, 2026, in the presence of Ramesh Kumar Pandey, IFS, Additional Director General (Wildlife), MoEFCC. He interacted with the participants and shared insights on wildlife conservation in India.
Through exposure to diverse ecosystems, wildlife research, conservation challenges and field-based learning, the course aimed to enhance public understanding of India's biodiversity and inspire citizens to actively contribute to wildlife conservation and promote awareness within society.
