• Otter Ecology and Hydrology Project
  • Ecofiles – a WCT podcast
  • Think Like an Ecologist – A comic series by WCT
  • An Unseen Battle at the Forest’s Edge
  • Donate to WCT

Our 360° Approach

Six hundred rivers originate from, or are fed by, the tiger-bearing forests of India, making these habitats crucial to our water security. With several million people living in and around forests, we cannot separate communities from conservation. Recognising this, WCT has adopted a 360° approach to conservation by focusing equally on wildlife protection and community development.

Wildlife Conservation

Our flagship science-based conservation programmes focus on highly endangered species such as the tiger, leopard, pangolin, otter, Gangetic river dolphin, gharial, and freshwater turtles, to highlight the ecological importance and strengthen the protection mechanism of large land- and river-scapes.

Ecosystems & Communities

We are working on harnessing public finance to safeguard all types of natural ecosystems including grasslands, deserts, marshlands, mangroves and forests, along with the development needs of communities that live in and around them.

Impact

We currently work in and around 170 Protected Areas across 23 states and four Union Territories of India, covering 82 per cent of the country’s tiger reserves, 25 percent of the national parks and sanctuaries, and impacting a population base of approximately 3.5 million people.

Climate & Conflict Mitigation

Our long-term ecological research in Central India, followed by economic and psychosocial studies, has led to the development and large-scale adoption of our biomass-fuelled, energy-efficient water heater, which is reducing firewood consumption, forest degradation, and human-carnivore conflict.

Ecosystem Restoration

We have embarked upon a rewilding programme that will look to restore natural vegetation and biodiversity across degraded scrublands, grasslands and forestlands with the help of local communities and landholders.

India is home to a dazzling diversity of wildlife, and 1.3 billion people. Our growing needs put immense pressure on our forests, river systems and biodiversity, and intensify the effects of climate change. At the Wildlife Conservation Trust, we are tirelessly working to protect India’s rich biodiversity and life-giving ecosystems through a robust and tested 360 degree approach, which takes into consideration the needs of both wildlife and people.
Ecofiles’, a podcast by Wildlife Conservation Trust, aspires to bring forth stories from the natural world, the art and science of conservation, deep dives into natural history, voices of the grassroots workers and field experts, and much more. Tune in to listen to diverse conversations centered around our natural world.

Latest from the Blog

World Ranger Day 2026 - Honouring India's Frontline Forest Staff
31 Jul 2026

Honouring India’s Frontline Forest Staff

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Every year on 31 July, the world observes International Rangers Day to honour the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our natural heritage, and to remember those who have made... Read More

The Economics of a Living Tiger
31 Jul 2026

The Economics of a Living Tiger

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Regulated jeep safaris are not the principal cause of human-tiger conflict. When properly managed, they are instruments that finance conservation infrastructure, sustain rural livelihoods, and incentivise coexistence. Photo: Dr. Anish Andheria Conflict and... Read More

The Road to Project Tiger
29 Jul 2026

The Road to Project Tiger

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Imagine standing in an Indian forest a little over a century ago. There was a very real chance that somewhere in those woods, a tiger was watching you. Photo credit: Raza Kazmi Personal... Read More

The Life And Lives Of Banni
26 May 2026

The Life And Lives Of Banni

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It was February 2014, and winter had begun to fade in Banni. We moved through the rocky tracts of Kutchh, small undulating hills dotted with sparse clumps of euphorbia. The only other green... Read More

Tiger Story: Lost Stripes of Gujarat
19 May 2026

Tiger Story: Lost Stripes of Gujarat

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Recently, a tiger that entered Gujarat from Madhya Pradesh and settled down in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary has been in the news. It has been widely reported as the return of the tiger... Read More