Bengaluru: Imran Siddiqui of the Wildlife Conservation Society India Program has been honoured with the prestigious Carl Zeiss Wildlife Conservation Award 2015.
Imran has been working with the Forest Departments and other government agencies facilitating conservation efforts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region, for 15 years. Among his numerous achievements include facilitating upgradation of the 890 sq km Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary to a Tiger Reserve (TR) spread over 2016 sq km. He also played a significant role in the expansion of Nagarjunasagar Srisailam TR (NSTR) from 3600 sq km to 6000 sq km. With the creation of Telangana, part of NSTR is now Amarabad Tiger Reserve in the new state.
Working as an external expert, Imran helps in design and implementation of advanced tiger monitoring protocols in both the states. With a passion for wildlife since his childhood, Imran began visiting forests around his hometown Hyderabad in his early teens.
“In 2000, when Mr. P Raghuveer, the then CCF of Warangal opened up volunteering opportunity, Iteamed up with my brother Asif to pursue our interest and participated in a number of wildlife awareness activities,” recalls Imran, of his early days.
In 2001, he co-founded the HyTiCoS (Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society) mobilising a group of enthusiastic volunteers for conservation of tigers and other wildlife in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh region.
After working extensively in the central Indian tiger conservation landscape for almost a decade, Imran soon found the need for a rigorous training rooted in science to pursue the career of a conservation biologist. He was subsequently selected for the WCS-NCBS Masters Program in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. After obtaining the degree in 2010, he explored collaborating with different NGOs before joining the WCS India Program to lead tiger conservation efforts in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
With his core skills in field surveys and GIS tools, Imran sees the imperative need to build local capacity of the frontline Forest Department staff and other civil society stakeholders to carry out effective conservation.
“In addition to his technical expertise, Imran uses his strong liaisoning skills to motivate media groups, lawyers, political leaders and general public for conservation of tigers and their habitats. These skills always help in effective conservation,” said Dr. N Samba Kumar, Additional Director – Science and Conservation, WCS India Program.
He works closely with local communities in both the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, to win their support for conservation, without compromising on their livelihood security. To ensure this, he liaises with the government agencies on a fair and well compensated voluntary relocation program sponsored by the government.
The Carl Zeiss Wildlife Conservation Award for 2015 is a testimony of his untiring efforts to save wildlife and wild places.