Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

In the recent past, India has witnessed frequent conflicts of leopards (Panthera pardus) and other wildlife with human populations. In a few cases, animals have been known to attack humans, but on most occasions, its animals, which have been killed. The spiraling human populations and their material demands have put enormous pressures on the wildlife. The problems in future are expected to escalate even further. This calls for an urgent understanding of the problem. While need of safer spaces for wildlife cannot be forgotten, the need of the human society also needs to be taken into consideration. Thus the ?Man-Environment? interaction needs to be studied from a whole new perspective. Over the last eight years, Ecologics is creating field work opportunities for students to work on live projects, with organisations working in wildlife and social sciences. Students get an opportunity to study conflict issues like crop damage, cattle lifting and also human attacks - apart from learning scientific tools for data collection and analysis. Thus students are motivated to explore the subject not as just an ecologist but also as a social scientist. This hands-on experience compliments the formal classroom education. In fact, many of these field training youngsters have been inspired in taking up further education and careers in many internationally reputed schools. At Ecologics, we are always on a look out for partnerships with schools offering Wildlife Biology and related subjects, where our students can come for higher studies.

Biography

Anirudh Chaoji runs Ecologics, an organization that creates opportunities for youngsters to gain fruitful experience - in the field of ecology, restoration and conservation in India. His 20 years of experience in this field has produced a number of excellent students in conservation field