The
Wildlife Protection Society Of India (WPSI) was founded in 1994 by Belinda
Wright, its Executive Director, who was an award-winning wildlife
photographer and filmmaker till she took up the cause of conservation. From
its inception, WPSI's main aim has been to bring a new focus to the daunting
task of tackling India's growing wildlife crisis. It does this by providing
support and information for authorities who are combating poaching and the
escalating illegal wildlife trade - particularly in wild tigers. It has now
broadened its focus to deal with human-animal conflicts and provide support
for research projects.
With a team of committed environmentalists, WPSI is one of the most
respected and effective wildlife conservation organisations in India. It is
a registered non-profit organisation, funded by financial donations from a
wide range of Indian and international sources. The Society’s Board
Members include leading conservationists and businessmen.
Investigation and Enforcement:
WPSI founding members have already demonstrated that undercover
investigation is the most effective way to identify and expose the
large-scale commercialization of wildlife. As a direct result of the
information gathered and assistance given in 1993 and 1994, law enforcement
authorities seized the bones and body parts of 109 tigers, the skins of 1650
other endangered mammals and 30,000 skins of assorted reptiles. In total 52
poachers and traders were arrested.
WPSI has established a network of strategically placed wildlife informers
throughout India. Acting quickly, WPSI's trained investigators analyze all
information received and link closely with Government law enforcement and
forestry departments to bring about seizures of illegal wildlife products
and the arrests of poachers and traders.
Trade routes and modus operandi of traders and poachers are also
continually studied and information passed on to Government authorities.
However
WPSI's reach extends far beyond the tiger and the Society supports
conservation projects in the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, and West Bengal, on
species as varied as the sea turtle and the slender loris. The Society is
now broadening its focus to deal with other critical issues such as
human-animal conflict involving tigers, leopards and elephants. In addition
WPSI supports a number of research projects on such far-flung issues as
tiger census techniques, the ecological impact of forest resource
extraction, and the snow leopard.
WPSI is actively involved in all major wildlife protection issues and is
one of the most effective conservation organisation in India today. WPSI
projects are generously supported by a number of organsations, foundations
and individuals.
