News

Volunteers Needed for Project on Wildlife Conflict and Distribution Surveys In Karnataka Parks

Dr. Krithi Karanth along with Centre for Wildlife Studies will be conducting wildlife surveys in Karnataka parks (Bandipura, Nagarahole, Bhadra and Kudremukha) in 2012. The training will require volunteers to visit 1000s of villages in Karnataka to determine species occurrence and examine human-wildlife conflicts around the parks. We are looking for volunteers to help in data collection along with the research team. Volunteers will have to be fluent in Kannada, work in teams, visit villages and experience rural India apart from being interested in wildlife. Good people skills are extremely important both for the research and ability to work with other volunteers. Candidates will be selected after a screening of their applications to judge their suitability for doing the work.
Candidates must be
1. Age group: 18-40 years
2. Physically very fit and have some experience in hiking through forests and rough country
3. Fluent in Kannada and have a reasonably good ability to interact with people from all walks of life
4. Be willing to work long and arduous hours (we typically work 8-12 hour days)
Simple vegetarian food and rudimentary field accommodation is available. Travel expenses to and from field sites will have to be borne by the participants. Some of the locations we will be staying are remote. Very strict camp discipline has to be observed. Candidates must be keen wildlife enthusiasts and come prepared with appropriate field clothes.
If you are interested, please contact Dr. Karanth with the following information ONLY in the exact format below (if ALL details are not provided your application will be disqualified).
1. Name
2. Age
3. Gender
4. Have you participated in Wildlife Conservation Society or Centre for Wildlife Studies field surveys? If Yes- provide details on what year, which field site and who was the supervisor.
5. Kannada fluency level fluent, somewhat fluent and not fluent for speaking, reading and writing.
6. Where do you live?
7. How many Indian parks have you visited?
8. Field Work Dates: The work will commence on Feb 11th in several batches. If you are interested send me exact dates that you will available. Dates have to be for a minimum of 7 days or more. If you are not sure you can participate because of leave issues with your job please do not apply.
9. Contact email and phone number
If you are interested in participating please send your details to karnatakahwc2012@gmail.com with ONLY details requested and the dates (a block of a minimum of 7 days) in which you would prefer to participate. If you are selected, you will be informed by email.
Best
Dr. Krithi K. Karanth

INDIA
Ramanujan Fellow, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India
Assistant Director, Centre for Wildlife Studies

U.S.A
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Duke University
Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Columbia University
Explorer, National Geographic Society

New Paper Published: Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Lachish, S., Gopalaswamy, A. M., Knowles, S. C. L., Sheldon, B. C. (In press). Site-Occupancy Modelling as a Novel Framework for Assessing Test Sensitivity and Estimating Wildlife Disease Prevalence from Imperfect Diagnostic Tests. Methods in Ecology and Evolution

The Wildlife Conservation Society, India is looking for a Finance Director reports to the Country Director, with a dotted-line report to the Comptroller in New York. The Finance Director is based in Bangalore.  This position is responsible for management of the financial systems, reporting to New York office and donors, country budgetary reporting and controls, monitoring and compliance of internal controls, conduct/coordinate operation reviews of project sites, cash management.

Click here for more information

Horizon Scanning India – 10 Question Survey

You can help in shaping future research and priorities in the field of nature conservation. India’s biodiversity and ecosystems are in decline, with consequences for human welfare and quality of life. Conservation needs to take into account the concerns of everyone who will be affected. Your participation is important.

We invite you to participate in the Horizon Scanning India – 10 questions survey.

You will be asked to provide up to 10 questions on what you think scientists need to answer to address present and future concerns regarding biodiversity, ecosystems and natural resources in India.

Follow the link below to find out more about Horizon Scanning India and take the survey:
http://www.ncbs.res.in/HorizonScanningIndia.html

Do you know other people or groups who would be interested to participate in the survey?

Please forward this email with the web links to others who you think may be interested in contributing.

New Paper Published: Current Science

Karanth, K. K. 2011. Mammal Species Richness in India. Current Science 100 (12) 1824-1832.

Dr. Raman Kumar awarded PhD from Manipal University

The Centre for Wildlife Studies is pleased announce that Mr. Raman Kumar has been awarded PhD degree from the Manipal University. His doctoral work was titled “Woodpecker community responses to forest management in sub-Himalayan dipterocarp forests of northwestern India”.

Dr. Ajith Kumar and Dr. Ghazala Shahabuddin were his co-guides.

Dr. G. V. Reddy (IFS) awarded PhD from Manipal University

The Centre for Wildlife Studies is pleased announce that Mr. G. V Reddy has been awarded PhD degree from the Manipal University. His doctoral work was titled Comparative Evaluation of Management Regimes for Biodiversity Conservation in India: A Case Study from Nagarahole, Karnataka.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Karnataka Forest Department. Dr. Ullas Karanth from Wildlife Conservation Society – India Program and Centre for Wildlife Studies was his guide and Dr. Anindya Sinha was his co-guide.

Opportunities with Wildlife Conservation Society-India Program

We have opportunities for field internship in our ongoing and new research programmes in different parts of South India, commencing from the field season September 2011. The minimum duration of the field internship will be for one month. Successful field interns will be eligible for a field research assistant position being offered by Centre for Wildlife Studies. The scope of the project will broadly involve monitoring the distribution and abundance of prey-predator populations and threats to their habitats using cutting-edge monitoring tools.

We are looking for young and highly motivated individuals capable of carrying out field research work independently under the overall supervision and guidance of our Senior Program Staff. The aspiring candidates must be physically fit and willing to put long and arduous working hours in the field. The position will require investing substantial amount of time in the field at a stretch (6 – 8 months) and will be responsible for the successful and timely implementation of projects at different field sites. Preference will be given to candidates with driving skills and prior field experience. A bachelor degree in any discipline is desirable, although we encourage all candidates with a proven track record of interest in wildlife, to apply for this position irrespective of their education background and qualification.

Terms and conditions for field internship with CWS/WCS-India

1. The field based internship will be for a minimum period of one month.
2. This is an unpaid position, but during the internship period, we will bear your field accommodation, field travel and food expenses. You will also be provided with a Personal Accident Insurance Policy. However, you have to bear travel expenses from your place of residence to field site and return journey.
3. We expect the trainees to be highly motivated individuals who can pay attention to minute details and are very keen to learn different aspects of field research work. We will not hesitate to terminate the training, if the interns do not meet our expectations.
4. Trainees should give an indemnity undertaking before commencing field work and they are not allowed to take copies of any data that they collect/use during their training.
5. Trainees should carry proper field kit that includes camouflage and/or dull clothing (no red, yellow or other bright colored dresses; green, khaki, grey or other dull colored dresses will do), tough walking shoes, torch, water bottle, binoculars and sleeping bag. Warm clothing is a necessity; trousers and full-arm shirts are preferable (they may have to wade through thorny bushes etc); no need to carry bedding. Only rudimentary camp facilities are available in our field camps.
6. Internship will not in any way automatically guarantee you an employment with us, but based on your performance you will be eligible for a field Research Assistant position, and considered for selection.

If you or any specific candidate from your organization is interested in this internship programme, please contact Mr. Narendra Patil at narendra.patil.cws@gmail.com immediately with the CV that provides your background details, and outdoor/field experiences.

New Paper Published: Journal of Applied Ecology

Karanth, U. K., Gopalaswamy, A. M., Kumar, N. S., Vaidyanathan, S., Nichols, J. D., MacKenzie, D. I. 2011. Monitoring Carnivore Populations At The Landscape Scale. Journal of Applied Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.02002.x

New Paper Published: Economic and Political Weekly

Karanth, U. K. 2011. India’s Tiger Counts: The Long March to Reliable Science. Economic and Political Weekly. 18: 22-25.