BENGALURU:A group of entrepreneurs under the banner Wild Tiger Foundation (WTF) have joined hands with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), India Program, to mobilise funds and get greater support of the Indian corporate sector for wildlife research and conservation in the country.
The collaboration will see WTF members reach out to the corporate world, through innovative targeted or generic fund raisers, involving top celebrities. The funds will be channelised to support conservation of wild tigers, its prey and habitats by implementing scientific solutions of WCS.
Started by a group of young entrepreneurs, the Wild Tiger Foundation focus is mainly raising funds and creating awareness in the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Their main areas of fund utilisation will be for: mitigation of human-tiger conflict, support for voluntary resettlement of families and building conservation awareness.
The partnership will be mentored by Dr K Ullas Karanth, director for Science - Asia, WCS. “This is exciting and provides new opportunities for conservation,” he said.
While Gautom Menon, WTF managing trustee said, “We are passionate about tigers; we acknowledge that we are no experts at conserving the big cats. Our aim is to leverage resources and networks to help the cause.”
The funds will be used in a diverse range of activities, including conflict mitigation, facilitation of voluntary resettlement as well as building capacity and awareness.
This will draw upon vast experiences of WCS India Program researchers and conservationists who have been assisting state forest departments in implementing balanced ‘win-win’ solutions for people and wildlife.