The Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), in collaboration with the School of Law, Christ University, Bengaluru, organised a workshop for lawyers on February 2-3, 2023. The workshop was attended by 17 practicing lawyers from across India, and 29 law students from Christ University. Mridula Vijairaghavan, Environmental Lawyer, WCT, and C. Samyukta, Forensics Expert, WCT, led the intensive two-day workshop which focused on understanding the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, interpretation of the various sections in the Act, and the procedural challenges faced by the forest staff in exercising powers of the Act. WCT trainers further expounded on the nature of wildlife crimes, evidence collection, procedure established by law, and documentation submitted to court.

C. Samyukta conducts a session for the participating layers on wildlife crime investigation and forensics at Christ University, Bengaluru.
C. Samyukta conducts a session for the participating layers on wildlife crime investigation and forensics at Christ University, Bengaluru. © WCT

The workshop involved intensive classroom and field sessions. The participants were taken to the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary on the second day where they interacted with the forest staff including Shri Santhosh, DCF, MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Shri Nagendraprasad, ACF, Kanakapura, Shri Ankaraju N M, ACF, Hannur, and Shri Shashi Kumar, RFO. The first-hand interaction with the forest staff helped the participants understand the ground realities of forest management and the gaps and challenges which create roadblocks in the process of wildlife crime investigation and building watertight cases for stronger convictions.

  • Mridula Vijairaghavan addresses the participants at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in the presence of senior forest officers and other staff
  • Senior forest officers interact with the participants at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
Mridula Vijairaghavan addresses the participants at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in the presence of senior forest officers and other staff (left). Senior forest officers interact with the participants at the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (right) © WCT

Through such workshops WCT is striving to equip lawyers to offer sound legal advice to law enforcement agencies to improve the conviction rate. To augment the efforts of the frontline forest staff, WCT is building a network of lawyers to fight against wildlife crime.

WCT’s Combatting Wildlife Crime (CWC) Programme, supported by DSP Investment Managers, works with varied stakeholders including the Forest Department, judiciary, and public prosecutors to improve detection, prosecution, and conviction of wildlife crimes.

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