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In a significant boost to wildlife conservation, the Standing Committee of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) has given in-principle approval to set up a dedicated Wildlife Research Institute in Maharashtra, on the lines of the Wildlife Institute of India. The proposed institute will come up near the Forest Training Institute in Shahapur and focus on region-specific conservation challenges with science-based solutions.

State needs

Wildlife Conservationist and Director, The Corbett Foundation, Kedar Gore. Pic/Facebook/gore.kedar

As per the minutes of the 9th SBWL meeting, Maharashtra supports populations of tigers, leopards, marine fauna, Western Ghats species, and wildlife in urban areas like Mumbai and Pune. Each region faces pressures such as human-wildlife conflict, habitat fragmentation, infrastructure impact, climate change, and coastal degradation.

Institute role

Kiran Shelar, member, SBWL. Pic/Facebook/kiranshelarbjp

The committee observed that the institute would enable region-specific research, data-driven management, and policy decisions. It will strengthen the training of forest staff, improve wildlife health and rescue efforts, and guide habitat planning. Member Kiran Shelar said, “With increasing human-wildlife interactions posing new-age challenges, there is a pressing need for a scientific and structured approach. Solutions must be rooted in evidence and research.”

Expert view

Wildlife Conservationist and Director of The Corbett Foundation, Kedar Gore, said, “This initiative will strengthen wildlife research and conservation of Maharashtra’s biodiversity. But it would be important that the state government commits to budgetary provision to provide necessary support to establish this as a state-of-the-art institute, while ensuring complete autonomy in its functioning. The institute should also offer Master’s and professional courses in wildlife sciences, ecology, and conservation biology.”