TN to transfer endangered species fund to AIWC to boost conservation efforts

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, Tamil Nadu is set to exclusively focus on endangered and critically endangered species as the state has decided to formally transfer the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund to the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), marking a fresh start for species recovery work that had stalled due to official apathy.

- SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA @ Chennai

Sanctioned early last year with an initial outlay of ₹5 crore, the fund was created to support targeted conservation of endangered flora and fauna that have long remained outside the spotlight. However, it lay underutilised after being routed first to a defunct Tamil Nadu Development Society and later to the Mudumalai Tiger Foundation without a clear action plan, sources told TNIE.