Our
Projects
At The Shola Trust, we believe conservation is a hands-on endeavour. We bridge the gap between scientific research and ground-level reality, working across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve to restore habitats, monitor wildlife, and empower local communities.
From the dense forests of Wayanad to the tea estates of Gudalur, our projects are designed to create a landscape where both giants and people have the space they need to thrive.
Habitat Restoration &
Invasive Removal
Invasive species like Lantana, Senna spectabilis, and Chromolaena are choking our forests. We have cleared over 100 hectares across Mudumalai, Bandipur, BRT, and Wayanad.
We actively monitor these plots to ensure long-term recovery. Through a combination of native planting, grass restoration, and expert-led regulated burning, we are bringing back the biodiversity that elephants and other wildlife depend on.
Knowing the Giants
Effective management begins with identification. We work closely with the Forest Department to create detailed profiles of individual elephants. Building on our foundational work profiling 200 elephants in Gudalur, we currently assist the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) in tracking and identifying individuals. This "identity-based" approach allows for more precise patrolling and nuanced conflict management.
Securing Livelihoods Safely
In partnership with Tata Trusts, we are experimenting with innovative, non-harmful barriers to keep elephants out of tea and coffee estates. Conducted in collaboration with WWS, these trials focus on finding physical solutions that protect crops and livelihoods without causing injury to the elephants. We aim to create a case study of barriers that can be scaled across conflict-prone landscapes.
Collaborative Monitoring
The Jumbo Radar app allows the public to report elephant sightings and crop damage in real time. Details: By submitting photos and videos, users provide the FD with critical data for rapid response. We have conducted training programmes for this technology across Gudalur, Wayanad, North Bengal, and Assam to turn local residents into active conservation partners.
Mapping the Menu
Understanding what elephants eat and where they go is key to preventing conflict. We are currently mapping land-use patterns across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
By identifying cultivated lands and plantations that offer "palatable food", we are building a predictive model of elephant movement. This data helps us understand why elephants leave the forest and how we can better manage the landscape interface.
High-Tech Habitat Monitoring
We are leveraging drone technology and AI to fight the spread of invasive species.
In collaboration with Farmers for Forests and Tech for Good, we use high-resolution orthomosaics (drone maps) to build models that can automatically detect Lantana and other invasives. This allows us to monitor forest health at a scale that was previously impossible.
