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A concise interpretation of people’s perception and attitude towards wildlife helps in formulating better long-term conservation policies.  In an attempt to understand people’s perception, we considered one of the threatened and least known ecosystems of northeastern India, the Barail range, mainly focusing on the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, the only protected area of this range, and falls in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot area.  The sanctuary is known for a high diversity of mammals, mainly primates (with seven reported species), and bears (with three of the eight globally known species—a diversity not met elsewhere in the globe).  To protect its pristine wildlife wealth, it is essential that the perception of the local settlers is elucidated, and this prompted us to take up the present study. In this study, we used open- and close-ended questionnaire, which was then coded (yes/positive=1 and no/negative=0).  Each response was thoroughly examined using logistic regression and variables like socio-economic factors, knowledge of the sanctuary, wildlife and forest management were found to generate positive perception towards the sanctuary and its wildlife, and vice-versa.  Further, alternative means is suggested in terms of tourism, and the attitudes towards instigation of tourism were mostly favoured by the locals.  Besides promoting tourism, providing alternative livelihood and vocational trainings for the locals and, timely compensation for the losses caused by the animals should be long-term strategies for the conservation of the mammals of the sanctuary.  It has been increasingly recognized that involvement of locals is a prima facie requirement in the conservation of wildlife, and as such their perception is of great significance.  While the study was conducted at the Barail Wildlife Sanctuary, the results may translate in other protected areas, and may be referred to as a model strategy for other protected areas having similar scenario.

Southern Assam (in Northeast India), also known as Barak valley, is a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. With some magnificent species already extinct from the region, and some on the verge of extinction, the valley is rightly called the ‘Valley of Extinction’. The region has two wildlife sanctuaries (WLS): Barail WLS and Barak-Bhuban WLS; one proposed WLS (Patharia), and a network of reserve forests (RF) which serve as strongholds of several wild species. However, due to rapid deforestation and decrease in their suitable habitats, encroachment into the wildlife sanctuary and RFs, depletion of prey and food trees, expansion of agriculture, changes in land use and land cover, road kills, etc., most of the wildlife are severely threatened, while others have now adapted to human dominated habitats thereby becoming pests, and vulnerable to prosecution. Moreover, research on the wildlife of the region, excluding a few species, is extremely limited, more so in the case of carnivores owing to their elusive and nocturnal behaviour. The present article focuses on the diversity, status, distribution, threats and conservation of the carnivores of southern Assam. We hereby report a total of 33 species of carnivores from the region, of which 2 are extinct, 2 are probably extinct with only stray individuals. Of the species reported hereby, three are ‘Endangered’, ten are ‘Vulnerable’, and another three are ‘Near threatened’, as enlisted by IUCN. In the beginning of the last century, most of these carnivore species were abundant in southern Assam, which is however decreasing alarmingly. Thus, strict enforcement of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Indian Forest Act, 1927; along with awareness campaigns, research on ecology, and population censuses of these species should be carried out to save the remaining populations in the region.

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Conservation of any species needs the support and cooperation of local people. In order to understand the attitudes and perceptions of the locals about the Capped Langur, the present study was carried out around Barail Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam. The study was carried out through a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and interaction with forest staff & local experts to assess the perception of present threats and conservation problems. A total of 400 respondents were interviewed during the study periods. The results reveal that a majority of respondents supported Capped Langur conservation. Habitat loss and fragmentation was considered a major threat (47%), followed by human exploitation (22%), developmental activities (17%), agricultural extension (8%), and hunting & teasing (6%). Knowledge concerning Capped Langurs and perceptions of threats varied considerably among respondents. Increased awareness among local people is suggested to motivate them towards conservation. Benefit sharing and promotion of value-added services through skill development could also be highly rewarding.