Save Indian Wildlife from Poaching & Illegal Trade

Thank you for supporting our project to save Indian wildlife from poaching and illegal trade. Your contribution has helped us take swift action on the ground to protect migratory birds that journey thousands of kilometers to India each winter.

In the reporting period, with your support, WTI initiated two Rapid Action Projects (RAPs) in West Bengal to combat the large-scale commercial poaching of migratory birds in the districts of Murshidabad, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, and North 24 Parganas. These projects, led by Mr. Suvrajyoti Chatterjee (HEAL) and Mr. Soumitra Roy (BAN Foundation), are already making a visible impact.

What We’ve Achieved Together

• 706 birds rescued — including larks, pipits, snipes, and sandpipers.

• Over 56 km of illegal mist nets dismantled, disrupting poaching operations.

• 13 arrests facilitated, deterring further trapping.

• 1,120 individuals reached through outreach in villages most affected by bird hunting.

• 40 permanent information boards installed at poaching hotspots to build awareness.

These achievements were possible because of your generosity. Every bird rescued and every net dismantled brings us one step closer to ensuring India’s skies remain safe for migratory species.

Looking Ahead

While we’ve made significant progress, threats to migratory birds and other species continue across the country. With your continued support, WTI will be able to respond swiftly through RAPs — one of our longest-running initiatives that has addressed over 700 urgent wildlife threats since 2001.

Thank you once again for standing with us in this fight against poaching and illegal trade.

With gratitude,
Team WTI

Among the many drivers that fuel illegal wildlife trade and the killing of countless wild animals, myths and superstitions remain among the most perplexing.

Wild animals are ruthlessly killed or sacrificed in the name of black magic and superstition. Their body parts are falsely claimed to hold magical properties or serve as charms for luck and fortune. It is heartbreaking to see India’s already dwindling biodiversity fall victim to such baseless beliefs—often a mirage, a false promise propagated for profit.

At Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), we remain steadfast in our fight against the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) through a multi-pronged approach. We actively gather intelligence and share it with enforcement agencies, facilitate raids and seizures, provide legal assistance to ensure offenders are brought to book, and train frontline enforcement personnel to strengthen protection efforts.

In a recent operation, three fledglings of rock eagle owl (also known as Indian eagle owl) were seized from illegal possession in Tijara, Alwar district of Rajasthan—rescued just in time from a horrifying ritual sacrifice. Based on digital surveillance and intelligence gathered by WTI, the rescue was carried out in coordination with the Tijara Forest Division. Three individuals were arrested and charged under relevant sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. These majestic birds are often targeted for sorcery due to deeply entrenched superstitions that misguide people into thinking they can ward off misfortune.

Thankfully, the rescued owlets were found to be in stable condition, with only minor injuries. They are now under rehabilitation at Nahargarh Biological Park in Jaipur and will eventually be released back into the wild—the home they were never meant to leave.

While our teams are on the ground, working tirelessly to protect wildlife, it is your support that makes these interventions possible. As we often say, without funds, conservation is just conversation. Your donations truly keep the wheels turning—and for that, we are deeply grateful.

Together, we can break the chains of ignorance and superstition that threaten our wild species. Every act of support, every donation, brings us one step closer to a safer, more compassionate world for our planet’s wildlife. Thank you for standing with us.

With gratitude,

Team WTI