National Workshop of ENVIS Centres and Nodes :June 2005

As the first step towards dissemination of information electronically, the development of HOME PAGE of the WII-ENVIS Centre was accomplished in September, 1997. With the establishment of a full INTERNET connectivity at WII in June 1998 the information from the WII-ENVIS Centre is available on line at Institute's WEB SITE

In order to disseminate focused information on Wildlife and Protected Areas this Centre brought out the first issue of ENVIS bulletin on "Conservation status of elephants in India" in March 1998. In this issue about 400 bibliographic references on Indian elephant were compiled. Also state wise elephant population and total population in India was collated. Management issues relating to long term conservation of elephants were also highlighted in this issue. A map showing distribution of elephants in Protected Areas of India was specially prepared using the state-of-the-art mapping facilities at the institute. The bulletin was sent to 512 individuals/organisations in India and 21 abroad. 

In order to commemorate 1998 as the International Year of the Tiger, the ENVIS Centre at WII brought out the second issue of the bulletin in October 1998 on "Small Cats of India". In this issue, information about 11 small cats, found in India was provided. Description of each species, the problems in identifying them, their distribution in India was provided. Information from status survey of small cats in the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa was collated. More that 300 references were compiled on small cats of India. The distribution of small cats in different biogeographic zones of India was represented through a map. The bulletin was sent to 584 individuals/organisations in India and  21 abroad. 

In 1999-2000 the Centre brought out the third issue of the bulletin dealing with the Status of Indian Crocodiles. The publication of this bulletin coincided with 25 years of Crocodile Conservation in India. The first section of the issue dealt with the profile of three Indian species of crocodiles and the history of crocodile conservation project, followed by its significance and achievements. The second section discussed the status of Indian crocodiles and the steps taken for their conservation and management in different states of India like Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman archipelago, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and in the neighboring country of Nepal. Maps showing crocodile distribution in various states were included in this section. In the third section ex-situ conservation of Indian crocodiles along with the details of Breeding Centres and their status was discussed. The fourth section dealt with the pros and cons of sustainable use of India's crocodile resource for the future. About 1000 references on Indian crocodiles from various sources were compiled. The bulletin was sent to 585 individuals/organizations in India and 26 abroad. 

Continuing to disseminate focused information on Wildlife and Protected Areas this Centre brought out the fourth issue of ENVIS Bulletin on "Mustelids, Viverrids and Herpestids of India" which includes martens, weasels, otters, civets and mongoose. In this issue, information on 32 species of small carnivores belonging to the families of Mustelidae, Viveridae and Herpestidae that are found in India has been provided. Description, behaviour and conservation status of each species have been dealt individually. The species range maps were prepared in GIS domain. Status report from Himalayas, northeastern India, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal, Orissa, Western Ghats and southern India, were also compiled. Two research articles viz. 1) Distribution and abundance of small carnivores in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and 2) Home range and habitat use by Indian grey mongoose and small Indian civets in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve were also published in this issue. In the last section captive breeding and trade issues in mustelids, viverrids and herpestids were included. More than 400 references were compiled. The bulletin was sent to 815 individuals/organizations in India and 41 abroad. 

In fulfilling the long standing need for a compilation of contact addresses of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in the country, the centre brought out the fifth issue titled Directory of Wildlife Protected Areas in India in the year 2000. This issue contains the contact addresses of 89 National Parks and 482 Wildlife Sanctuaries in the country. The first section is on the states and their PAs with details on the area, date of establishment, the location and the contact address. The second and third section has the contact details of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and the Chief Wildlife Wardens of each state. The issue also has the details of Tiger Reserves and Biosphere Reserves in the country. The bulletin was sent to 1050 individuals/organizations in India and 25 abroad.  

During the year 2001, the centre brought out its sixth issue on the Non-Human Primates of India. In this issue, information on the status and distribution of all 15 non-human primate species was covered. The issue also included information on Species profiles of 5 non-human primate species (viz. Bonnet Macaque, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Hoolock Gibbon and Indian Rhesus Macaque); distribution, conservation, status and priorities from Northeast India, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa have been provided. The issues of prioritizing primate species for captive breeding and the status of captive primates in Indian zoos have been presented under the ex-situ initiatives section. A separate section on the problems of primate human conflict wherein issues and the means of resolving the problem have been included. Essential information on trade, utilization and trapping techniques of primates in India has also been provided. A comprehensive bibliography of Indian primates has also been included. The Bulletin was sent to more than 1200 individuals/organizations in India and 250 abroad.

During the year 2002, the centre published its seventh issue on 'Mountain Ungulates'. This issue covered the mountain ungulates of the Greater and Trans-Himalayas. The first section discussed the species profiles and the distribution in India and across the world. The second section provided the protected area network and state reports on status and management of mountain ungulates in the wilderness of several himalayan states including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The third section discussed the issues related to the conservation issues of mountain ungulates in the himalayan region, it also focuses the regional perspectives for its predator snow leopard (Panthera uncia). A 'veteran's section' providing valuable information on key issues for conservation of mountain ungulates written by eminent conservationists has also been included. A comprehensive bibliography of mountain ungulates has also been included.  The bulletin was sent to more than 1000 individuals/organizations in India and 20 abroad.  

The complete internet version of all published bulletins of the WII ENVIS Centre are also uploaded at our web site