how many of you love Tigers all right that’s awesome how about lions aren’t
that’s awesome how about lions aren’t
that’s awesome how about lions aren’t they majestic well as majestic they as
they majestic well as majestic they as
they majestic well as majestic they as they are unfortunately there aren’t many
they are unfortunately there aren’t many
they are unfortunately there aren’t many of them left in the wild and they are in
of them left in the wild and they are in
of them left in the wild and they are in danger here in the Americas we’re very
danger here in the Americas we’re very
danger here in the Americas we’re very lucky to have wild cats like mountain
lucky to have wild cats like mountain
lucky to have wild cats like mountain lions and bobcats here in our very own
lions and bobcats here in our very own
lions and bobcats here in our very own backyards but what about backyards
backyards but what about backyards
backyards but what about backyards around the world these are just four of
around the world these are just four of
around the world these are just four of about 40 wild cat species around the
about 40 wild cat species around the
about 40 wild cat species around the world
world
world what about pampas cats Palace cats sand
what about pampas cats Palace cats sand
what about pampas cats Palace cats sand cats and black footed cats what about
cats and black footed cats what about
cats and black footed cats what about the world’s smallest cat the rusty
the world’s smallest cat the rusty
the world’s smallest cat the rusty spotted cat it’s about the size of a
spotted cat it’s about the size of a
spotted cat it’s about the size of a wine bottle all these cats have one
wine bottle all these cats have one
wine bottle all these cats have one thing in common like many other species
thing in common like many other species
thing in common like many other species on the planet they’re either threatened
on the planet they’re either threatened
on the planet they’re either threatened endangered or some close to the point of
endangered or some close to the point of
endangered or some close to the point of extinction in many parts of the world
extinction in many parts of the world
extinction in many parts of the world I’m a wildlife conservationist and I’m
I’m a wildlife conservationist and I’m
I’m a wildlife conservationist and I’m here to share with you the idea that we
here to share with you the idea that we
here to share with you the idea that we as global citizens have a responsibility
as global citizens have a responsibility
as global citizens have a responsibility and the power to protect these
and the power to protect these
and the power to protect these endangered species and the beautiful
endangered species and the beautiful
endangered species and the beautiful landscapes that they live in and this is
landscapes that they live in and this is
landscapes that they live in and this is not just for our future generations but
not just for our future generations but
not just for our future generations but for the sustenance of life on Earth the
for the sustenance of life on Earth the
for the sustenance of life on Earth the only planet we have until we discover
only planet we have until we discover
only planet we have until we discover another one
another one
another one my journey in conservation began while I
my journey in conservation began while I
my journey in conservation began while I was doing my engineering degree in India
was doing my engineering degree in India
was doing my engineering degree in India that’s right I’m an Indian from India
that’s right I’m an Indian from India
that’s right I’m an Indian from India you see in India we first do our
you see in India we first do our
you see in India we first do our engineering degree and then we figure
engineering degree and then we figure
engineering degree and then we figure out what to do in life and I can talk to
out what to do in life and I can talk to
out what to do in life and I can talk to you like this all day long but you will
you like this all day long but you will
you like this all day long but you will not understand anything because I talk
not understand anything because I talk
not understand anything because I talk very very fast so I probably have to
very very fast so I probably have to
very very fast so I probably have to switch to my fake accent
so I was really lucky to get to travel
so I was really lucky to get to travel to Africa because of my mom and dad who
to Africa because of my mom and dad who
to Africa because of my mom and dad who took me there and I got to camp out in
took me there and I got to camp out in
took me there and I got to camp out in the middle of the Serengeti the heart of
the middle of the Serengeti the heart of
the middle of the Serengeti the heart of Africa with these two amazing field
Africa with these two amazing field
Africa with these two amazing field guides their names were Thomas and Jerry
guides their names were Thomas and Jerry
guides their names were Thomas and Jerry and while we were camping around the
and while we were camping around the
and while we were camping around the campfire they said to me you could you
campfire they said to me you could you
campfire they said to me you could you were just like our brother you can just
were just like our brother you can just
were just like our brother you can just call us Tom and Jerry and so Tom and
call us Tom and Jerry and so Tom and
call us Tom and Jerry and so Tom and Jerry told me so much about their
Jerry told me so much about their
Jerry told me so much about their backyard wildlife they told us about
backyard wildlife they told us about
backyard wildlife they told us about animals like the dik-dik and the
animals like the dik-dik and the
animals like the dik-dik and the secretary bird and their behaviors in
secretary bird and their behaviors in
secretary bird and their behaviors in such great detail it just blew my mind
such great detail it just blew my mind
such great detail it just blew my mind it inspired me what but what stuck would
it inspired me what but what stuck would
it inspired me what but what stuck would be most was the love of their backyard
be most was the love of their backyard
be most was the love of their backyard wildlife and how they said that their
wildlife and how they said that their
wildlife and how they said that their lives actually depended on it and this
lives actually depended on it and this
lives actually depended on it and this is when I decided to switch my career to
is when I decided to switch my career to
is when I decided to switch my career to wildlife pursuing a career in
wildlife pursuing a career in
wildlife pursuing a career in conservation was not easy especially in
conservation was not easy especially in
conservation was not easy especially in India and when I was trying to look for
India and when I was trying to look for
India and when I was trying to look for an opportunity I faced a lot of
an opportunity I faced a lot of
an opportunity I faced a lot of disappointments a lot of professionals
disappointments a lot of professionals
disappointments a lot of professionals in the field rejected me but then I had
in the field rejected me but then I had
in the field rejected me but then I had a lot of disappointments but then
a lot of disappointments but then
a lot of disappointments but then realized that these disappointments
realized that these disappointments
realized that these disappointments actually turned into appointments
actually turned into appointments
actually turned into appointments eventually and this didn’t happen by any
eventually and this didn’t happen by any
eventually and this didn’t happen by any other means but through people these are
other means but through people these are
other means but through people these are my heroes my mentors who coached me and
my heroes my mentors who coached me and
my heroes my mentors who coached me and encouraged me to pursue a career in
encouraged me to pursue a career in
encouraged me to pursue a career in conservation I eventually went on for
conservation I eventually went on for
conservation I eventually went on for being a project assistant – obtaining a
being a project assistant – obtaining a
being a project assistant – obtaining a degree in wildlife conservation both a
degree in wildlife conservation both a
degree in wildlife conservation both a masters and a PhD and I didn’t do this
masters and a PhD and I didn’t do this
masters and a PhD and I didn’t do this by any other means I did this by
by any other means I did this by
by any other means I did this by analyzing a whole bunch of poop
analyzing a whole bunch of poop
analyzing a whole bunch of poop that’s real mountain lion poop right
that’s real mountain lion poop right
that’s real mountain lion poop right there we biologists like to call it the
there we biologists like to call it the
there we biologists like to call it the gold mine because it can tell us a lot
gold mine because it can tell us a lot
gold mine because it can tell us a lot of information poop DNA from poop can
of information poop DNA from poop can
of information poop DNA from poop can tell you what animal it came from what
tell you what animal it came from what
tell you what animal it came from what it ate who it’s related to who and how
it ate who it’s related to who and how
it ate who it’s related to who and how many there are in a given area I was so
many there are in a given area I was so
many there are in a given area I was so happy when I got my degrees I even
happy when I got my degrees I even
happy when I got my degrees I even changed the license plate on my car and
changed the license plate on my car and
changed the license plate on my car and then I went on to reflecting on this and
then I went on to reflecting on this and
then I went on to reflecting on this and realized that this was a dream come true
realized that this was a dream come true
realized that this was a dream come true for me I felt like I had received a
for me I felt like I had received a
for me I felt like I had received a license to save save all the animals in
license to save save all the animals in
license to save save all the animals in the world and the one thing that I
the world and the one thing that I
the world and the one thing that I learned from all my mentors and friends
learned from all my mentors and friends
learned from all my mentors and friends is that sharing your knowledge with
is that sharing your knowledge with
is that sharing your knowledge with anyone and everyone can be very powerful
anyone and everyone can be very powerful
anyone and everyone can be very powerful especially scientific knowledge when I
especially scientific knowledge when I
especially scientific knowledge when I was pursuing my studies I got to go to
was pursuing my studies I got to go to
was pursuing my studies I got to go to India and explore efforts for tiger
India and explore efforts for tiger
India and explore efforts for tiger conservation in this wildlife sanctuary
conservation in this wildlife sanctuary
conservation in this wildlife sanctuary that almost lost its tigers in the last
that almost lost its tigers in the last
that almost lost its tigers in the last last decade I met with some amazing
last decade I met with some amazing
last decade I met with some amazing people the man in the middle here who
people the man in the middle here who
people the man in the middle here who you see his name is Shankar he used to
you see his name is Shankar he used to
you see his name is Shankar he used to be a bamboo cutter the Tiger
be a bamboo cutter the Tiger
be a bamboo cutter the Tiger Conservation Society that I was
Conservation Society that I was
Conservation Society that I was volunteering for involved him in
volunteering for involved him in
volunteering for involved him in research efforts to collect information
research efforts to collect information
research efforts to collect information on tigers leopards and so many other
on tigers leopards and so many other
on tigers leopards and so many other species that were in this sanctuary
species that were in this sanctuary
species that were in this sanctuary Shankar got involved and not only helped
Shankar got involved and not only helped
Shankar got involved and not only helped with Tiger conservation efforts but
with Tiger conservation efforts but
with Tiger conservation efforts but because he knew the forest like the back
because he knew the forest like the back
because he knew the forest like the back of his hand he was able to patrol the
of his hand he was able to patrol the
of his hand he was able to patrol the forest and his efforts directly led to
forest and his efforts directly led to
forest and his efforts directly led to establishing this sanctuary very
establishing this sanctuary very
establishing this sanctuary very recently as India’s 42nd tiger reserve
recently as India’s 42nd tiger reserve
recently as India’s 42nd tiger reserve now Shankar did not have any degrees but
now Shankar did not have any degrees but
now Shankar did not have any degrees but he sure got the license to save
what I want to share with you here is
what I want to share with you here is that scientific knowledge is not
that scientific knowledge is not
that scientific knowledge is not privileged in fact I think all of
privileged in fact I think all of
privileged in fact I think all of science should be openly accessible by
science should be openly accessible by
science should be openly accessible by everyone and anyone and sharing
everyone and anyone and sharing
everyone and anyone and sharing knowledge and sharing this knowledge can
knowledge and sharing this knowledge can
knowledge and sharing this knowledge can be very powerful not just to protect
be very powerful not just to protect
be very powerful not just to protect endangered species but also the
endangered species but also the
endangered species but also the livelihoods of entire communities so
livelihoods of entire communities so
livelihoods of entire communities so when I finished my studies I wanted to
when I finished my studies I wanted to
when I finished my studies I wanted to channel all this information that I had
channel all this information that I had
channel all this information that I had gained into the quest for protecting a
gained into the quest for protecting a
gained into the quest for protecting a wild cat that lives in my backyard in
wild cat that lives in my backyard in
wild cat that lives in my backyard in India any guesses on which this cat is
it’s a cat that is probably more
it’s a cat that is probably more endangered than the tiger and it is none
endangered than the tiger and it is none
endangered than the tiger and it is none other than the fishing cat a cat that
other than the fishing cat a cat that
other than the fishing cat a cat that loves water a cat that lives on fish and
loves water a cat that lives on fish and
loves water a cat that lives on fish and loves to swim aren’t they fishing
loves to swim aren’t they fishing
loves to swim aren’t they fishing awesome well when we started looking for
awesome well when we started looking for
awesome well when we started looking for these cats on the coastline of South
these cats on the coastline of South
these cats on the coastline of South India we found that these cats inhabit a
India we found that these cats inhabit a
India we found that these cats inhabit a very unique ecosystem forests that are
very unique ecosystem forests that are
very unique ecosystem forests that are present at the Nexus of rivers and
present at the Nexus of rivers and
present at the Nexus of rivers and oceans people from Southeast US and
oceans people from Southeast US and
oceans people from Southeast US and Florida can relate these forests grow
Florida can relate these forests grow
Florida can relate these forests grow where salt water meets freshwater
where salt water meets freshwater
where salt water meets freshwater mangrove forests mangroves we learn are
mangrove forests mangroves we learn are
mangrove forests mangroves we learn are not just habitats for these amazing
not just habitats for these amazing
not just habitats for these amazing species like fishing cats and
species like fishing cats and
species like fishing cats and smooth-coated otters and sea turtles and
smooth-coated otters and sea turtles and
smooth-coated otters and sea turtles and river turtles dog face water snakes
river turtles dog face water snakes
river turtles dog face water snakes mobula rays and thousands of bird
mobula rays and thousands of bird
mobula rays and thousands of bird species that depend on them for their
species that depend on them for their
species that depend on them for their life cycles but mangroves also are a
life cycles but mangroves also are a
life cycles but mangroves also are a source of livelihood for people people
source of livelihood for people people
source of livelihood for people people depend on mangroves for their survival
depend on mangroves for their survival
depend on mangroves for their survival on a day-to-day basis mangroves are also
on a day-to-day basis mangroves are also
on a day-to-day basis mangroves are also the first line of defense between
the first line of defense between
the first line of defense between natural disasters like tsunamis and
natural disasters like tsunamis and
natural disasters like tsunamis and millions of livelihoods that live on
millions of livelihoods that live on
millions of livelihoods that live on coastlines mangroves prevent soil
coastlines mangroves prevent soil
coastlines mangroves prevent soil erosion and to top it all mangroves
erosion and to top it all mangroves
erosion and to top it all mangroves store more than five times the carbon as
store more than five times the carbon as
store more than five times the carbon as tropical forests so protecting one acre
tropical forests so protecting one acre
tropical forests so protecting one acre of mangroves is like protecting five or
of mangroves is like protecting five or
of mangroves is like protecting five or more acres of tropical forests but
more acres of tropical forests but
more acres of tropical forests but here’s the big problem we have lost any
here’s the big problem we have lost any
here’s the big problem we have lost any from 50 to 80% of the historic mangrove
from 50 to 80% of the historic mangrove
from 50 to 80% of the historic mangrove cover in South and Southeast Asia
cover in South and Southeast Asia
cover in South and Southeast Asia and this is because of our demands for
and this is because of our demands for
and this is because of our demands for agriculture and aquaculture if you don’t
agriculture and aquaculture if you don’t
agriculture and aquaculture if you don’t believe me go to your grocery store and
believe me go to your grocery store and
believe me go to your grocery store and pick up that package of shrimp that says
pick up that package of shrimp that says
pick up that package of shrimp that says product of Thailand product of Indonesia
product of Thailand product of Indonesia
product of Thailand product of Indonesia product of India product of Sri Lanka
product of India product of Sri Lanka
product of India product of Sri Lanka and it’s a farm raised well guess where
and it’s a farm raised well guess where
and it’s a farm raised well guess where it comes from but not all is lost
it comes from but not all is lost
it comes from but not all is lost and here’s where the story takes a twist
and here’s where the story takes a twist
and here’s where the story takes a twist when we were looking for fishing cats in
when we were looking for fishing cats in
when we were looking for fishing cats in these mangrove habitats we discovered
these mangrove habitats we discovered
these mangrove habitats we discovered some communities and here’s a man who we
some communities and here’s a man who we
some communities and here’s a man who we titled the mangrove man of India and the
titled the mangrove man of India and the
titled the mangrove man of India and the reason why we did this is because while
reason why we did this is because while
reason why we did this is because while they were amazed to learn about fishing
they were amazed to learn about fishing
they were amazed to learn about fishing cats we learned that they had already
cats we learned that they had already
cats we learned that they had already performed some game-changing magic in
performed some game-changing magic in
performed some game-changing magic in this landscape here’s a Google Earth
this landscape here’s a Google Earth
this landscape here’s a Google Earth image you all use Google Earth right you
image you all use Google Earth right you
image you all use Google Earth right you can go check this place out scroll that
can go check this place out scroll that
can go check this place out scroll that historic slider back to 2005 this was
historic slider back to 2005 this was
historic slider back to 2005 this was the state of the landscape back then
the state of the landscape back then
the state of the landscape back then mangrove forests encroached by fish and
mangrove forests encroached by fish and
mangrove forests encroached by fish and shrimp farms and agricultural farms this
shrimp farms and agricultural farms this
shrimp farms and agricultural farms this used to be a wildlife sanctuary now I
used to be a wildlife sanctuary now I
used to be a wildlife sanctuary now I want you all to close your eyes for five
want you all to close your eyes for five
want you all to close your eyes for five seconds do it now close your eyes for
seconds do it now close your eyes for
seconds do it now close your eyes for five seconds and we’re gonna travel five
five seconds and we’re gonna travel five
five seconds and we’re gonna travel five years forward and I want you to open
years forward and I want you to open
years forward and I want you to open your eyes and take a look at that same
your eyes and take a look at that same
your eyes and take a look at that same landscape again abandoned farms
landscape again abandoned farms
landscape again abandoned farms converted to mangrove habitat this is
converted to mangrove habitat this is
converted to mangrove habitat this is what it used to look like this is what
what it used to look like this is what
what it used to look like this is what it looks like now
and this has not just happened on that
and this has not just happened on that small piece of land but 27 thousand
small piece of land but 27 thousand
small piece of land but 27 thousand acres of farms were restored to
acres of farms were restored to
acres of farms were restored to mangroves in less than half a decade
mangroves in less than half a decade
mangroves in less than half a decade through a community effort and guess who
through a community effort and guess who
through a community effort and guess who lives there now here’s where I want to
lives there now here’s where I want to
lives there now here’s where I want to connect the dots from cats to
connect the dots from cats to
connect the dots from cats to communities to climate change and we can
communities to climate change and we can
communities to climate change and we can clearly see the potential of engaging
clearly see the potential of engaging
clearly see the potential of engaging citizens in science-based conservation
citizens in science-based conservation
citizens in science-based conservation efforts and I believe that with enough
efforts and I believe that with enough
efforts and I believe that with enough encouragement anyone can do conservation
encouragement anyone can do conservation
encouragement anyone can do conservation when I was working on this project I was
when I was working on this project I was
when I was working on this project I was contacted by this 18-year old boy
contacted by this 18-year old boy
contacted by this 18-year old boy Santosh who was texting me on facebook
Santosh who was texting me on facebook
Santosh who was texting me on facebook Messenger and going I really want to
Messenger and going I really want to
Messenger and going I really want to help I really want to help protect these
help I really want to help protect these
help I really want to help protect these cats in my backyard and I really want to
cats in my backyard and I really want to
cats in my backyard and I really want to do something for conservation it took me
do something for conservation it took me
do something for conservation it took me back to the time when I was yearning for
back to the time when I was yearning for
back to the time when I was yearning for an opportunity to become a part of
an opportunity to become a part of
an opportunity to become a part of wildlife conservation efforts and I said
wildlife conservation efforts and I said
wildlife conservation efforts and I said I was going to change this when I became
I was going to change this when I became
I was going to change this when I became a professional so we brought Santosh
a professional so we brought Santosh
a professional so we brought Santosh onto the team and in less than six
onto the team and in less than six
onto the team and in less than six months he learned all the skills of a
months he learned all the skills of a
months he learned all the skills of a conservation biologist and he
conservation biologist and he
conservation biologist and he communicated with his entire community
communicated with his entire community
communicated with his entire community about the importance of protecting their
about the importance of protecting their
about the importance of protecting their backyard ecosystems and the endangered
backyard ecosystems and the endangered
backyard ecosystems and the endangered species out there that they really need
species out there that they really need
species out there that they really need for their long-term survival Santosh not
for their long-term survival Santosh not
for their long-term survival Santosh not only did that he educated schoolchildren
only did that he educated schoolchildren
only did that he educated schoolchildren and he went on a harnessing trust with
and he went on a harnessing trust with
and he went on a harnessing trust with tribal communities the man to the left
tribal communities the man to the left
tribal communities the man to the left there his name is Moshe he used to hunt
there his name is Moshe he used to hunt
there his name is Moshe he used to hunt fishing cats and guess what most she
fishing cats and guess what most she
fishing cats and guess what most she does now he is helping us track cats and
does now he is helping us track cats and
does now he is helping us track cats and collecting information on these species
collecting information on these species
collecting information on these species and educating his community about wild
and educating his community about wild
and educating his community about wild cats
cats
cats about endangered species and the
about endangered species and the
about endangered species and the importance of protecting them Moshi and
importance of protecting them Moshi and
importance of protecting them Moshi and Santos helped us discover three new
Santos helped us discover three new
Santos helped us discover three new populations of fishing cats and they’re
populations of fishing cats and they’re
populations of fishing cats and they’re both employed in conservation I just
both employed in conservation I just
both employed in conservation I just want to drive home the message now that
want to drive home the message now that
want to drive home the message now that anyone can get involved and save species
anyone can get involved and save species
anyone can get involved and save species from extinction and change the face of
from extinction and change the face of
from extinction and change the face of the planet so go out there be curious
the planet so go out there be curious
the planet so go out there be curious photograph that plant that poked you or
photograph that plant that poked you or
photograph that plant that poked you or the bug that bugged you who knows you
the bug that bugged you who knows you
the bug that bugged you who knows you might be a part of a discovery and don’t
might be a part of a discovery and don’t
might be a part of a discovery and don’t forget to share your knowledge with the
forget to share your knowledge with the
forget to share your knowledge with the world children the future of
world children the future of
world children the future of safeguarding our ecosystems are waiting
safeguarding our ecosystems are waiting
safeguarding our ecosystems are waiting to hear from you are you listening
to hear from you are you listening
to hear from you are you listening just remember the name is scientist
just remember the name is scientist
just remember the name is scientist citizen scientist and you have the
citizen scientist and you have the
citizen scientist and you have the license to save save the world from
license to save save the world from
license to save save the world from extinction thank you very much
”
Be First to Comment