Conservation interventions in developing countries are frequently thwarted by socio-economic agendas, severely limiting the scope and rigor of biodiversity and habitat conservation. Very few ecological assessments incorporate human interests in conservation prioritization, creating asynchrony between planning and implementation. For conservation actions to be logistically feasible, multiple criteria including ecological, social, economic and administrative aspects must be considered. Understanding how these different dimensions interact spatially is also important for gauging the potential for conservation success. Here, we use a guild of select mammalian carnivores (wild canids and hyenas) in India to (i) generate distribution maps at the spatial scale of administrative sub-districts, that are relevant to management, (ii) examine ecological, social and biogeographic factors associated with their distribution, assess key threats, and identify areas important for their conservation, (iii) use prioritization tools for balancing habitat conservation, human needs and economic growth, and (iv) evaluate the spatial congruence between areas with high conservation potential, and areas currently in focus for protection efforts, conservation investments, and infrastructure development. We find that the current Protected Area system does not adequately cover or represent diverse habitats, that there is immense potential for States to increase financial investments towards alternative conservation strategies, and, most infrastructure projects may be potentially jeopardizing important carnivore habitats where the two overlap. Our framework allowed for identifying locations where conservation investments would lead to the highest benefits for carnivores as flagships, which also benefit other species across habitats. We make a case for re-evaluating how large-scale prioritization assessments are made, and for broadening the purview of conservation policies in India and other developing countries.

Wildlife crimes pertaining to lesser-known species do not usually garner adequate focus or interest by enforcement and conservation agencies.  Additionally, illegal wildlife trade fuelled by religious beliefs in sorcery and superstition is an oft-neglected field of research.  To draw attention to these two broad issues, we provide a baseline analysis of open-source reports on Golden Jackal Canis aureus poaching and trade in India.  We highlight the pervasiveness of an active local and transnational ‘jackal horn’ trade, which is severely under-reported and insufficiently researched.  News reports and government seizure data reveal that, between 2013 and 2019, 126 skins, eight tails, more than 370 ‘jackal horns’, 16 skulls and two live jackals have been seized.  The demand for the illusionary ‘jackal horn’ appears to be driven by extensive online endorsement and unsubstantiated claims made by religious practitioners, targeted primarily at south Asian markets.  This preliminary study is an urgent call for concerted efforts to monitor the illegal trafficking and trade of this common species, with a particular focus on the demand and supply chains.

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33Conservation interventions in developing countries are frequently thwarted by socio-economic 34 agendas, severely limiting the scope and rigor of biodiversity and habitat conservation. Very few 35 ecological assessments incorporate human interests in conservation prioritization, creating 36 asynchrony between planning and implementation. For conservation actions to be logistically 37 feasible, multiple criteria including ecological, social, economic and administrative aspects must 38 be considered. Understanding how these different dimensions interact spatially is also important 39 for gauging the potential for conservation success. Here, we use a guild of select mammalian 40 carnivores in India to (i) generate distribution maps at a spatial scale that is relevant to 41 management, (ii) examine ecological, social and biogeographic factors associated with their 42 distribution, quantify key threats, and identify areas critical for their conservation, (iii) use 43 prioritization tools for balancing habitat conservation, human needs and economic growth, and 44 (iv) evaluate the spatial congruence between areas with high conservation potential, and areas 45 currently in focus for protection efforts, conservation investments, and infrastructure 46 development. We find that the current Protected Area system does not adequately cover or 47 48 investments towards alternative conservation strategies, and, most infrastructure projects may be 49 putting important carnivore habitats at risk. Our framework allowed for identifying locations 50 where conservation investments would lead to the highest dividends for flagship carnivores and 51 associated species across habitats. We make a case for re-evaluating how large-scale 52 prioritization assessments are made, and for broadening the purview of conservation policies in 53 India and other developing countries. 54 55 56