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Fieldwork is Key: DFO on Tiger Conservation
29 Jul
Summary
- Fieldwork is essential for tiger conservation, according to the DFO.
- Traditional knowledge from indigenous people is vital for conservation efforts.
- Climate change impacts are already evident, affecting water resources.
Divisional Forest Officer Kashyap Shashank Ravi underscored the indispensable role of fieldwork in conserving species like the tiger. Speaking on International Tiger Day, he advised students that while modern technologies like AI and thermal imagery are useful, there is no substitute for hands-on experience in the wild. Ravi encouraged aspiring conservationists to connect with indigenous communities, whose ancestral knowledge of wildlife biology offers invaluable lessons.
The college's head of wildlife biology, B. Ramakrishnan, noted the institution's unique position as the sole government college offering a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology. He also drew attention to the current environmental crisis, explaining how the failure of the southwest monsoon has led to critically low water levels in reservoirs, even in the upper Nilgiris. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the immediate impacts of climate change and global warming on ecological systems. Ramakrishnan concluded that safeguarding forests and wildlife is the only effective strategy to combat these effects and ensure the future availability of clean air, food, and water.
