Wildlife Research and Conservation Society

What Wildlife Research and Conservation Society does

Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) is a Pune-based Indian non-profit organization founded in 2017 that conducts wildlife conservation research and implements community-based conservation projects across multiple Indian states. The organization's primary functional focus is mitigating human-wildlife conflict in agricultural landscapes — most notably through its documented Community-Based Management of Elephant Conflict (CBCM) methodology, which trains farmers in low-cost crop-protection techniques including trip alarm bells, chili-based deterrents, and bee-hive fences, with 300+ farmers trained across Karnataka and Maharashtra. WRCS also conducts species-specific research and monitoring programs including Forest Owlet ecology, Great Indian Bustard status assessment, Ujani wetland waterbird counts (114 species documented in a single March 2025 census with Solapur Forest Division), and reforestation of private forests targeting 10,000 seedlings annually.

WRCS serves three distinct stakeholder groups: state government forest departments (Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Solapur, Karnataka, Maharashtra) that consume training, workshops, and research support; rural farmers in forest-fringe areas who adopt CBCM crop-protection methods; and individual donors plus e-commerce buyers of wildlife-themed handicrafts. The organization maintains formal multi-year grant relationships with the CEPF-ATREE Western Ghats Program and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, which have been continuous funding sources since 2010 and 2011 respectively.

The business model combines three revenue streams: (1) conservation grants from international donors and government programs; (2) individual donations, including the "Donate a Tree" program priced at ₹150 per seedling with three-year maintenance and 80G tax exemption for contributions of ₹1,000 or more; and (3) product sales through an online e-commerce shop selling wildlife-themed handicrafts (lapel pins ₹140-150, t-shirts ₹600-650, tote bags ₹385-630, keychains ₹140-180, coasters ₹170-215, wall hangings) shipped pan-India with PayU Money and UPI payment integration. The technology footprint is minimal: a Wix-hosted website, PayU Money and UPI payment processing, and traditional citizen-science data collection — no AI/ML capabilities, proprietary software platforms, or mobile applications are evidenced.

Name

Wildlife Research and Conservation Society

Legal name

Wildlife Research and Conservation Society

Website

https://wrcsindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wildlife Research and Conservation Society is a Pune-based Indian non-profit that conducts wildlife research and community-based conservation projects — including human-elephant conflict mitigation, Forest Owlet ecology, and wetland monitoring — serving state forest departments, rural farmers, and individual donors across multiple Indian states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Retail-Miscellaneous Retail (5900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Wildlife Health & Conservation Disease Management (HLAMAJAM)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation research
• Human-wildlife conflict mitigation
• Community-based conservation
• Ecological restoration services
• Wetland and species monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Pune

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of wildlife-themed handicrafts including lapel pins, t-shirts, tote bags, keychains, coasters, and wall hangings through the organization's online shop
2. Donations: Individual donations for tree plantation and conservation projects; donations eligible for 80G income tax exemption for Indian citizens
3. Conservation Grants: Funding from international conservation organizations including CEPF-ATREE Western Ghats Program and US Fish and Wildlife Service Asian Elephant Conservation Fund

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WRCS is an Indian non-profit that conducts scientific wildlife research and field conservation projects (human-elephant conflict mitigation, Forest Owlet ecology, Great Indian Bustard status assessment, Ujani wetland conservation, and reforestation of private forests). It supplements its mission through a curated e-commerce shop selling wildlife-themed handicrafts and through a tree-plantation donation program, with all proceeds directed toward conservation activities.

Product overview

Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) operates a dual-purpose offering: (1) An e-commerce shop selling wildlife-themed handicrafts including lapel pins, tote bags, t-shirts, keychains, coasters, and wall hangings - all featuring hand-painted or printed wildlife designs and produced by local artisans; and (2) Conservation donation services including the 'Donate a Tree' program and direct project funding for wildlife research initiatives such as Human-Elephant Conflict mitigation, Forest Owlet ecology studies, and wetland conservation. The organization also conducts community workshops, training programs, and publishes research through partnerships with forest departments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wildlife-Themed Lapel Pins Hand-painted MDF lapel pins featuring wildlife designs including Elephant, Owl, Vulture, Tiger, Leopard, and Butterfly motifs; sold to retail consumers in India at Rs. 140-150 per unit.
• Wildlife-Themed Tote Bags Cotton tote bags with applique and painted designs of elephants, tigers, leopards, and owls; available in multiple styles with zipper closures and pockets at Rs. 385-630 per unit.
• Wildlife-Themed T-Shirts 100% cotton printed and painted t-shirts featuring Forest Owlet, Hornbill, Barn Owl, and tiger designs; available in various sizes at Rs. 600-650 per unit.
• Wildlife-Themed Keychains MDF and bamboo keychains hand-painted with Forest Owlet, Tiger, Elephant, and Hornbill designs with wooden beads and metal rings; priced at Rs. 140-180 per unit.
• Wildlife-Themed Coasters MDF and bamboo painted coasters featuring Hornbill, Tiger, Elephant, Barbet, and Giant Squirrel designs; available in hexagonal, round, and square shapes at Rs. 170-215 per coaster or set.
• Wildlife-Themed Wall Hangings MDF wall hangings painted with acrylic colors featuring Flamingo, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, and Owl designs, with wooden beads for hanging.
• Donate a Tree Program Conservation donation program where contributors fund tree plantation on private lands; Rs. 150 plants and protects one native seedling for three years, with 80G tax exemption certificates issued for donations of Rs. 1,000 or more.
• Wildlife Conservation Research Projects Field conservation research initiatives covering Human-Elephant Interactions, Ecology of Forest Owlet, Reforestation of Private Forests, Status of Great Indian Bustard, and Ujani Wetland Project; delivered to government forest departments and partner organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ farmers successfully using low-cost crop protection methods
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• Madhya Pradesh Forest DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining workshops for forest department staff on conservation and human-wildlife conflict management
• Andhra Pradesh Forest DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining workshops for forest department personnel on conservation practices
• Solapur Forest DivisionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Ujani Waterbird Count survey conducted on March 23, 2025 at five survey locations

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wildlife Conservation Trust: India-based wildlife conservation NGO focused on research, community engagement, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Operates in the same geographic and programmatic space as WRCS, making it the closest direct comparator for funding competition, government relationships, and field methodology.
• ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment): India-focused conservation and ecological research NGO, and notably the parent body of the CEPF-ATREE Western Ghats Program — a confirmed WRCS funder. Operates the same Western Ghats conservation space and shares scientific, grant, and government-partnership ecosystems with WRCS.
• Wildlife SOS: India-based NGO focused on wildlife rescue, conservation, and community-based initiatives including human-wildlife conflict mitigation. Comparable in being an Indian nonprofit that combines field programs with public-facing funding (donations, retail, partnerships) targeting similar donor audiences.
• Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI): India-based NGO working on wildlife trade enforcement, species protection, and conservation policy. Comparable as a domestically rooted conservation NGO that combines field research, government engagement, and public fundraising — overlapping with WRCS's donor and species-protection missions.
• Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF): India-based research and conservation NGO combining scientific research with community-based conservation. Operates in overlapping Western Ghats and central Indian geographies and pursues a similar scientist-led, grant-funded operational model as WRCS.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Large global conservation NGO with programs spanning species research, field conservation, and community-based approaches worldwide. WRCS operates as a specialized Indian counterpart within the same ecosystem of NGOs pursuing evidence-based wildlife conservation through partnerships with government agencies.
• WWF-India: Indian arm of the World Wide Fund for Nature, working on species conservation, habitat protection, and human-wildlife conflict across India. Larger and more diversified than WRCS, but operates overlapping programs in Maharashtra/Karnataka and competes for similar donor and government mindshare.
• The Nature Conservancy India: India operations of a major global conservation organization focused on landscape-scale habitat protection and species conservation. A broader incumbent providing large-grant alternatives to WRCS's niche funder relationships and a potential collaboration partner for landscape programs.
• Wildlife Institute of India: Government-funded autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment undertaking wildlife research, training, and capacity-building across India. Many WRCS forest-department training engagements sit alongside this broader public-sector conservation training ecosystem.

Regional players

• Satpuda Foundation: Maharashtra-based NGO focused on forest and wildlife conservation in central India, particularly Melghat and surrounding tiger reserves — geographies where WRCS also operates. Comparable in size and conservation focus, with overlapping farmer engagement and forest-department outreach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wix
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wildliferesearchandconserv4660
• Facebookfacebook.com/WildlifeResearchAndConservationSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/wildlife-research-and-conservation-society-pune-4543a315
• Instagraminstagram.com/wrcs_india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wildlife Research and Conservation Society