The event, inaugurated by Supriya Sahu, highlighted the importance of raptors as key indicators of ecosystem health.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department held a one-day workshop and the inaugural meeting of the Tamil Nadu Raptor Research Foundation (TNRRF) on September 2 at the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), Vandalur, Chennai. This initiative aims to strengthen raptor conservation and research in the State.
The event, inaugurated by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests, highlighted the importance of raptors as key indicators of ecosystem health. Raptors, or birds of prey, are facing significant threats globally, with 18% of species at risk of extinction and many experiencing population decline.
Tamil Nadu, home to key raptor habitats such as the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and coastal wetlands, is also seeing increasing pressures on these species due to habitat loss, poisoning, electrocution, and illegal trade.
The Tamil Nadu government on July 9 issued a Government Order (G.O.) sanctioning ₹1 crore from the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund for the establishment of the TNRRF. The foundation will focus on scientific research, conservation strategies, and community outreach to protect species such as eagles, vultures, and hawks. Key objectives include conducting species surveys, tracking migratory patterns, and setting up rehabilitation programs for endangered raptors.
The workshop also saw the unveiling of the TNRRF logo and the release of the Wild Animal Carcass Management Guidelines. Presentations were delivered by experts including Ranjit Daniels, Founder of Care Earth Trust, and Sanjeev Menon, Manager of the State of India’s Birds Partnership, covering various topics on raptor conservation and threats.
Published – September 03, 2025 05:30 am IST
