An MoU between the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and the Last Wilderness Foundation has been signed on Tuesday, February 17. The MoU focuses on to strengthening community-based conservation and promote human–wildlife coexistence across the Sahyadri landscape. The MoU was signed on behalf of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve by Tushar Chavan, IFS, Field Director, and on behalf of Last Wilderness Foundation by Vidya Venkatesh, Director. Located in the northern Western Ghats, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve forms part of the globally recognised Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot and comprises Chandoli National Park, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary. The landscape supports tigers, leopards, gaur, sloth bears, sambar, dholes, and several rare and endemic species of the Western Ghats. Objective of MoU Under the MoU, emphasis will be placed on enhancing community participation in buffer and fringe villages, conservation awareness, capacity building, mitigation of human–wildlife conflict, and collaborative, locally driven protection efforts. Last Wilderness Foundation is working in wildlife conservation, community engagement, conservation education, and human–wildlife coexistence. The organisation has previously partnered with forest departments in multiple tiger reserves, including Pench …