Mahim Pandhi
Wildlife Foundation
The Foundation was established as a not-for-profit organization to fill a vital gap in crocodile research and conservation.
Our team of crocodile specialists works with the crocodiles of the arid region of Kutch, to understand their uniqueness, their adaptation to the harsh conditions of this biome, and their special, conflict-free existence with their human neighbours.
DesertCrocs
Research and Conservation Project
DesertCrocs project aims to under the Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in the arid environment of the isolated region of Kutch, India.
We believe these crocodiles may have something unique to show us.
Ongoing initiatives
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Understanding the 'desert crocs'
We are researching the ethology of these crocodiles to better understand their morphological and behavioral differences to their mainland cousins.
Habitat destruction
Human expansion has skyrocketed in Kutch and is quickly wiping out many prime habitats, as well as affecting smaller habitats through pollution and invasive species.
Awareness and conflict mitigation
Kutch has a record of zero fatalities from crocodiles. By working with local communities and spreading awareness, we hope to help continue this legacy, and ensure people remain croc-wise.
Impact of climate change
These crocodiles already face major challenges with Kutch's harsh climate. Now these challenges are intensifying with the changing climate.
KutchWildlife
Open-access
Wildlife Databank
This website is the first central repository of comprehensive information on all wildlife in Kutch. It lists over 500 species of animals, and over 20,000 research papers concerning those species.
As an open-source project, this website aggregates information from various prominent sources and also includes contributions from the public at large, including researchers, naturalists, and even citizen scientists. The goal of this project is to promote wildlife conservation and create awareness for the problems faced by Kutch's animals.
In the near future, the databank will also be available as an Android app for offline usage in the field, as well as create a public platform for reporting sightings, roadkill, and other relevant data to create a detailed overview of wildlife activities.
Visit the website at KutchWildlife.com
In production:
Dragons in the Desert
Our upcoming documentary tells the story of the crocodiles of Kutch. We follow different individuals and show their life over different seasons, the challenges they face, and how they live in almost complete harmony with humans.
Dragons in the Desert is scheduled to be released in 2021. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay informed.
Snapshots from the field
About the Foundation
The Mahim Pandhi Wildlife Foundation was founded to fill the void of conservation and protection of the native crocodiles of Kutch, a unique, isolated part of India. Our small, focused team combines experiences from different fields to approach challenges from new perspectives.
With our flagship project DesertCrocs, we are working towards a better understanding of the unique crocodiles of Kutch. We work with local authorities and communities on educational initiatives to help continue the zero human-crocodile conflict legacy of Kutch, and better understand this fascinating aspect of co-existence.
Self-sufficiency and open exchange
Our prime directive is to study crocodiles while taking the utmost care to preserve their safety, territory, and way of life. We employ cutting edge technologies and inventive methodologies to explore new ways of understanding these animals.
The Foundation is fully self-sufficient and operates on a private budget, without any financial contributions from donors or sponsors, to create a superbly streamlined endeavor that is strictly focused on our work and not administration and fundraising.
To foster open exchange, The Foundation publishes its research and data under the permissive Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 license.
Team
Mahim Pandhi
(1946-2006)
The Foundation was created in memory of Mahim Pandhi, a renowned journalist and renaissance man who loved nature. He spent his life practicing his principles of charity and philanthropy. He was a man of action who believed in doing things himself - especially when it came to helping others. He loved to explore nature and shared his garden with cobras, mongooses, and reptiles.
The Mahim Pandhi Wildlife Foundation was founded by his family.
Join the adventure
Researchers
We are looking for like-minded people in the fields of herpetology, zoology, and paleontology - who are interested in collaborating with the DesertCrocs project, and beyond. You will get to work with a team of specialists with decades of experience under their belt, and have access to cutting edge technologies.
Students
Are you an undergraduate or postgraduate student? You can gain valuable work experience in the field by joining our projects on a short-term basis. Get in touch with us for details.