World Environment Day Initiative Strengthens Wildlife Conservation and Forensic Capacity in the State

Raigarh, June 5: Demonstrating its commitment to scientific wildlife conservation, the Chhattisgarh Forest and Climate Change Department today commenced a two-day workshop titled “Learning from Dead — Essentials for Mortality Investigation of Asian Elephant” in Raigarh on the occasion of World Environment Day 2026.

The programme, being held under the theme “Inspired by Nature – For Climate, For Our Future,” has brought together forest officers and veterinary professionals from elephant-affected divisions across the state. The initiative reflects the vision of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, who has consistently advocated for strengthening wildlife conservation, scientific management, and capacity building within the Forest Department.

Scientific Conservation Gets a Strong Push

The workshop is being organised under the guidance of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force Shri Arun Pandey, whose emphasis on modern wildlife management and scientific decision-making has led to several important conservation initiatives in the state.

The programme has been closely coordinated by Shri Matheshwaran V., APCCF (Wildlife), whose efforts have contributed significantly to the planning and implementation of the training programme. Senior officers noted that the workshop is part of a broader effort to strengthen wildlife health monitoring and forensic investigation capacity in Chhattisgarh.

The event is being conducted in technical collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, and the School of Wildlife Forensic Health (SWFH), Jabalpur.

Responding to Emerging Conservation Challenges

Chhattisgarh today supports an estimated population of 450 Asian elephants, many of which migrated from neighbouring Odisha and Jharkhand over the last two decades.

With elephant movement expanding into human-dominated landscapes, districts such as Raigarh, Jashpur, Korba, and Surajpur have witnessed increasing human-elephant interactions. Forest officials say that understanding the exact causes of elephant mortality is crucial for conservation planning, disease surveillance, and legal enforcement.

Recent elephant calf mortalities in the Raigarh region further underlined the need for specialised training in wildlife necropsy and forensic investigation.

Technical Sessions Begin on Opening Day

The first day of the workshop featured a series of technical sessions focusing on elephant conservation, health management, disease surveillance, wildlife forensic protocols, and mortality investigation.

Experts discussed elephant anatomy and biology, infectious diseases such as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), tuberculosis, anthrax, and haemorrhagic septicaemia, as well as non-infectious causes of mortality including electrocution, poisoning, train accidents, and environmental toxins.

Technical sessions also addressed:

• Wildlife health surveillance and disease monitoring
• Biosafety and biosecurity protocols
• Forensic investigation procedures
• Evidence handling and chain of custody requirements
• Standardised documentation and reporting methods

Practical demonstrations on scientific necropsy procedures, sample collection, carcass handling, field equipment operation, and forensic documentation are scheduled as part of the workshop’s second-day programme.

Renowned Experts Share Their Expertise

One of the major highlights of the workshop has been the participation of leading wildlife health and forensic experts from across the country.

The faculty includes Dr. Parag Nigam, Scientist-G and Head of Wildlife Health Management at WII; Dr. Tapendra Saini, Scientist-C at WII; Dr. C.P. Sharma, Principal Technical Officer (Forensics) at WII; Dr. M. Karikalan, Senior Scientist at IVRI; and Dr. A.B. Srivastava, former Director of the School of Wildlife Forensic Health.

Senior veterinary professionals from Nandanvan Zoo, Naya Raipur, and Kanan Pendari Zoo, Bilaspur, are also contributing valuable field experience and technical guidance.

Officials praised the faculty members for sharing practical knowledge and real-world case studies that will directly benefit field personnel working in challenging conditions.

Senior Officers Lead the Initiative

The workshop witnessed active participation and support from senior officers of the Chhattisgarh Forest Department. Among them was Smt. Priyanka Pandey, CCF and Field Director, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, who played an important role in the successful organisation of the programme.

Forest Department officials said the initiative reflects the department’s commitment to equipping frontline staff with modern scientific tools and knowledge required for effective wildlife management.

Building a Stronger Future for Elephant Conservation

The workshop is expected to significantly strengthen the state’s capacity for scientific elephant mortality investigations and help establish standardised protocols across forest divisions.

Upon completion of the training programme, participating officers and veterinarians are expected to be better equipped to identify causes of death, preserve critical evidence, collect diagnostic samples, and strengthen disease surveillance systems for elephants and other wildlife species.

A Landmark Step Under Shri Kedar Kashyap’s Vision

The workshop marks an important milestone in Chhattisgarh’s conservation journey. Under the leadership of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, the strategic direction of PCCF Shri Arun Pandey, and the dedicated efforts of Shri Matheshwaran V. (APCCF Wildlife) and other senior officers, the state is steadily building a stronger, science-based framework for wildlife protection.

By investing in training, research, and forensic capacity, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department is ensuring that every wildlife mortality investigation contributes valuable knowledge for the protection of the state’s rich biodiversity and its growing elephant population.