Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), March 15 Forest officials, environmental scientists, and wildlife conservationists from India, Nepal, and Bhutan have agreed to form a collaborative network to strengthen the protection and conservation of small wild cats in the region, officials said on Sunday.
The decision was made at the concluding session of the third international transboundary meeting organized at the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve by the Global Tiger Forum under its GEF-7 program, according to forest department officials.
The two-day meeting concluded on Friday with forest officials, conservationists, and wildlife experts from the three countries agreeing to develop a joint conservation strategy for small wild cats, said DTR Field Director Dr. H. Rajamohan.
He highlighted that small carnivores, particularly small wild cats, play a vital ecological role by controlling the population of small mammals and rodents and thereby maintaining ecological balance.
Rajamohan said the proposed network would facilitate situation analysis and assessment of small wild cat species across the region and help ensure scientific studies on their distribution, habitat status, and threats to their conservation.
Describing the international meeting at Dudhwa as a major initiative to strengthen biodiversity in the Terai landscape, the field director said the discussions highlighted the need for cross-border cooperation, scientific research, and community participation in conservation efforts.
During the meeting, WWF-India released a book titled "An Identification Manual for Wild Cats in the Dudhwa Landscape", which will serve as a field guide for forest officials, researchers, and conservation experts.
According to Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Secretary of the Global Tiger Forum, the objective of the meeting was to strengthen the conservation of small wild cats in South Asia and enhance conservation capabilities at the global level.
Senior officials and experts from forest departments and institutions, including the Wildlife Institute of India and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, also participated in the meeting.