This project is a participatory collaborative study of urban biodiversity with slender loris as focal species bringing amateur citizens and professional scientists together as a community.
This citizen-science initiative attempts to engage citizens from various walks of life in the science of conservation as well as socialize the largely institutionalized practice of science in today’s world.
1.To create awareness among citizens and connect them to urban biodiversity through slender lorises, thereby making them stakeholders in conservation.
2.To scientifically carry out socio-ecological study of the present as well as past distribution of slender lorises that can aid in conservation of urban wildlife and Eco-sensitive development of the urban landscapes.
Project activities are mainly carried out by volunteers under the guidance of scientists. The activities include the following:
Nocturnal surveys are conducted across identified green pockets in Bangalore’s urban landscape and they are one of the main activities of the project. The surveys are carried out by teams of trained volunteer, with the intention of establishing the presence/absence of loris populations at the survey sites and building up field data for scientific analysis.
Vegetation surveys carried out during the day time, are for the examination of the habitat structure, mainly the vegetation characteristics i.e, noting the trees, plants (creepers/climbers) that are present in the area as well as observing features such as undergrowth & canopy continuity.
Carried out at sites considered to be potential loris habitats and where loris presence has been confirmed (through nocturnal surveys), these surveys are also intended to establish the degree of human interference in the areas and identify possible threats to the habitats.
Historical evidence for the past distribution of loris populations in Bangalore is being gathered through oral interviews with old-time residents, wildlife enthusiast and animal rescuers.
Collation of historical and field data, its analysis using scientific methods and final reporting is continuously driven by the core team of volunteers under the guidance of Dr. Kaberi Kar Gupta, Principal Scientist of the project, other renowned Scientists and Conservationists who form the advisory panel. The outcomes of the analysis are then presented in various fora and to concerned organizations/authorities as well as used as feedback to guide the course of the project.
Through our active presence across various social media platforms, we reach out to local citizens and to individuals across geographical boundaries.
The awareness program envisages the development of an education program for advocacy and outreach, connecting citizens with the wildlife that surrounds them and making them stakeholders in urban biodiversity conservation.