Vidya is an ecologist working for the last 8 years on interactions between a large cat (the leopard) and humans when they share the same space. She has been working on understanding the drivers of man-animal conflict in the backdrop of the socio-cultural ethos in India which inspires tolerance for other life forms. She talks about the interplay between socio-politics of conflict and the role of cultural tolerance towards wildlife in India. We also heard her elaborate on her work in the human dominated landscapes of Maharashtra and the different ways to bring acceptance of wild animals within communities and stake holders through capacity building and education.
