Researchers Flag Gaps in Study of Kali Tiger Reserve Railway Project

An independent review conducted by researchers, conservation organisations, and Bengaluru-based institutes has identified major gaps in the Wildlife Institute of India’s ecological assessment of the Castlerock–Kulem railway doubling project cutting through Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve.

The review states that the assessment carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) last year contains incomplete biodiversity documentation, omits several crucial taxonomic groups, and fails to evaluate landscape-scale ecological impacts. Critical issues such as habitat fragmentation, wildlife corridor connectivity, and the environmental consequences of expanding linear infrastructure through a sensitive tiger landscape remain unaddressed in WII's report.

Because the project involves expanding an existing railway line, it falls outside the purview of standard Environmental Impact Assessment regulations. This regulatory exemption makes the accuracy of the ecological review particularly significant. The proposed expansion project has already faced substantial opposition over its potential socio-ecological impacts.

Researchers described WII’s biodiversity documentation as incomplete and taxonomically biased. The assessment provided only partial lists of mammals and birds, while offering little to no coverage of plants, fungi, insects, arachnids, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. The review highlighted that legally protected butterfly species were omitted, alongside fungal diversity that plays a vital role in nutrient cycling, soil stability, and plant health. The reviewers also questioned plant sampling methods, calling for extensive surveys of grasses, orchids, and ferns within the project’s zone of influence.

In addition, the review emphasized that Kali Tiger Reserve plays a critical role in maintaining habitat connectivity for large mammals, including tigers. However, WII's report focused primarily on species richness without examining animal movement or assessing how linear infrastructure expansion could fragment the landscape.

Giridhar Kulkarni, a wildlife conservationist and co-author of the review, pointed out that over 600 families have been relocated from the Kali Tiger Reserve over the past decade to create inviolate habitat for wildlife. He stated that projects proposed in ecologically significant areas must be evaluated through rigorous, independent peer-reviewed assessments so that decisions are based on credible science.

The review was co-authored by researchers from the University of Leeds, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Woodland Society, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Wildlife Research and Conservation Society, Wild Otters Research Pvt. Ltd., Goa Bird Conservation Network, and independent researchers.