Mr. Shahzada Iqbal Appointed to Jharkhand State Wildlife Board
TNN News : Marking a significant achievement for the Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Mr. Shahzada Iqbal, a Research Scholar in the department, has been appointed as a member of the Jharkhand State Wildlife Board, Government of Jharkhand. This is the first time a student from the department has been selected to serve on this prestigious statutory body.
Mr. Iqbal recently participated in the 15th meeting of the State Wildlife Board, held on August 1, 2025, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Hemant Soren. During the meeting, he contributed expert advice on the proposed Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary and Sahibganj Dolphin Sanctuary, and provided valuable input on several other conservation initiatives being undertaken in the state.
Closely associated with the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand, Mr. Iqbal has played a key role in conceptualizing and supporting various wildlife management programmes. Notably, he was instrumental in designing and facilitating the implementation of PTR’s flagship livelihood initiative, Janbhagidari: Hunar Se Rozgar, a skill development programme aimed at empowering forest-dwelling communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Mr. Iqbal is currently pursuing his doctoral research under the supervision of Prof. Orus Ilyas, focusing on “The Coexistence of People and Grey Wolves in and around Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary.” He credits his involvement in field-level conservation work and state-level policy development to the consistent support and mentorship of his supervisor.
Expressing gratitude, Mr. Iqbal acknowledged the guidance and encouragement received from Prof. Satish Kumar, Chairman of the Department, and other faculty members.
“It is a proud moment to hear his name announced in such esteemed forums, accompanied by the words ‘Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University’. It serves as a reminder of both one’s roots and responsibilities,” he said.
