This episode dives deep into the realities of forest conservation in India, far beyond headlines and statistics.

In this episode, Raza Kasmi reflects on decades of forest history — from Maoist insurgency and timber mafias to tiger conservation, community knowledge, and policy failures. Drawing from personal stories and archival research, the conversation challenges simplified ideas of wildlife protection and asks uncomfortable but necessary questions.

We talk about: – The real impact of insurgency on forest governance – The limits of fortress conservation and reintroductions – Human–wildlife conflict, past vs present – Why access to forests matters for the next generation – And why some conservation decisions risk creating “glorified zoos”

This is not a quick listen. It’s a thoughtful, layered conversation for anyone interested in wildlife conservation, ecology, policy, history, or the future of India’s forests.

🎧 Watch till the end for a lighter detour into forest folklore and ghost stories from old forest rest houses.

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ABOUT Welcome to Some Like It Wild—the podcast that takes you deep into the untold stories of India’s legendary wildlife champions. What drives someone to chase cobras through the Western Ghats? Or spend years tracking big cats? What pivotal moments led them to choose a career in the wild, especially in an era when conservation was barely a conversation? In each episode, we sit down with scientists, filmmakers, conservationists, and more to hear their unfiltered stories—their struggles, triumphs, and the raw, untold moments that defined their journeys. From near-misses with predators to the evolving challenges of protecting India's biodiversity, this is the story of those legends you've never heard.