Training and Education Programs

Since inception, Wildlife First has been conducting training programs for special interest groups including law enforcement officers, judicial officers, public prosecutors, lawyers, journalists... and nature education programs specifically for wildlife NGOs, local communities including teachers and students living around wildlife reserves. Here’s a short portfolio of our efforts:

• Under the aegis of State Judicial Academies of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh , more than 25 training capsules conducted for over 800 Judicial Magistrates, Chief Judicial Magistrates, Sessions Judges and Public Prosecutors - 2005 – 2015 and on-going.
• In association with the Karnataka Police Academy, around 20 sensitization programs for in-training and serving police officers have been conducted. More than 600 officers and personnel of various ranks including IPS officers have participated in both classroom and field training sessions - 2005 -2015 and on-going
• With a special focus on strengthening the protection capacities of Forest department staff, more than 40 law enforcement training programs have been conducted in several States. Through this long-term effort, around 2500 frontline forest protection staff have been sensitized on tracking, field protection and implementation of the Wildlife Act along with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure - 1997 onwards.
• The Karnataka Legal Services Authority invited Wildlife First as an expert resource agency for a series of training programs on disseminating various Orders of the Supreme Court on forest matters. More than 150 senior forest and revenue officials participated - 2011.
• The State Forestry College, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Coimbatore invited Wildlife First as an expert resource agency for refresher training programs. More than 200 forest officers from across the country participated in four programs - 2005-2006.
• Wildlife First continues its community education activities focused around Protected Areas to reach out to the local community through nature camps for school children, slide shows and talks. Awareness campaigns to prevent forest fires have been conducted around BRT, Bandipur and Nagarahole Reserves - 2008 onwards.