Forest authorities, wildlife experts and conservationists from India, Nepal and Bhutan have agreed to establish a transboundary network to safeguard small wild cats in the region. The decision was taken at the third international transboundary meet held at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under the Global Tiger Forum’s GEF‑7 programme.
The two-day meeting, which concluded on Friday, focused on developing a joint conservation strategy for small wild cats. Dr H Rajamohan, Field Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, said the initiative would enable detailed situation analysis and assessment of small wild cat populations, habitats and threats across borders.
“Small carnivores, particularly small wild cats, play a vital ecological role by regulating populations of small mammals and rodents,” Dr Rajamohan said. “The proposed network will facilitate scientific research and strengthen regional collaboration for effective conservation.”
Cross-border cooperation, community engagement and rigorous scientific research emerged as key priorities. Dr Rajamohan described the meet as a “major step to strengthen biodiversity in the Terai landscape,” emphasising that sustainable protection required coordination among neighbouring countries.
During the session, WWF‑India released “An Identification Manual for Wild Cats in the Dudhwa Landscape”, a field guide designed for forest officials, researchers and conservation experts. The manual provides detailed information on species identification, habitat preferences and monitoring methods.
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Dr Rajesh Gopal, Secretary of the Global Tiger Forum, noted that the objective was not only to conserve small wild cats in South Asia but also to enhance regional and global conservation capacities.
The meet drew senior officials and experts from forest departments, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, highlighting the importance of coordinated monitoring and protection measures.
Small wild cats, often overlooked in conservation agendas, are vital to ecological balance. Their protection safeguards the health of ecosystems that support larger predators, agricultural stability and biodiversity.
By combining scientific research, policy coordination and local community participation, the network aims to ensure long-term survival of these species across India, Nepal and Bhutan, creating a model for transboundary wildlife conservation in South Asia.
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