https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Pioneering Conservation: How S. Justin Jones is Transforming Wildlife Protection in the Sundarbans

IFS Officer S. Justin Jones has pioneered innovative conservation efforts in Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, including the first-ever GPS tracking of freshwater turtles and successful bird festivals, significantly advancing wildlife protection.
Indian Masterminds Stories

As a forest officer, wildlife conservation is a crucial duty. While some officers simply fulfill their responsibilities, others go above and beyond to protect wildlife. S. Justin Jones, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) Officer from the 2018 batch and the Deputy Director of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, is a prime example of the latter. He has been exceptionally proactive in his role, implementing various innovative measures that have significantly enhanced the protection and conservation of wildlife in the Sundarbans region.

One of his notable achievements includes the conservation of the critically endangered Batagur baska turtle species. In addition to this, Jones has initiated the estimation of several important species in the Sundarbans and launched Bird Festivals. These festivals have attracted a large number of tourists, contributing both to the local economy and to conservation efforts. Furthermore, he has assisted the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Ltd. (WBFDCL) in securing a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for ‘Sundarban Mouban Honey.’

Indian Masterminds recently interviewed Mr. Jones to gain deeper insights into his initiatives and his vision for preserving the biodiversity of the Sundarbans.

IFS S Jones Justin

THE BATAGUR BASKA

The Batagur baska is one of the most endangered turtle species in the world, and Mr. Justin Jones has played a crucial role in its conservation. He was instrumental in creating the Vision and Action Plan for the Batagur baska in the Sundarbans. Currently, this species is found only in India and Bangladesh and is almost extinct in the wild. The remaining population exists only in a few controlled environments, where it used to breed annually.

In 2022, Jones introduced a technically advanced artificial incubation method for the Batagur baska, a groundbreaking approach since such incubation had never been attempted before. This innovative technique has been highly successful, correcting the declining sex ratio and achieving a remarkable 98% survival rate. “When we started this incubation, we were pioneers in uncharted territory,” Jones said. “We experimented with various methods, found success in many, and standardized the procedure.”

By 2025, the department plans to release around 200 Batagur baska back into the wild to help rewild the population. The current population of Batagur baska in the Sundarbans camp exceeds 500. While, the incubation program began with 7 females and 5 males.

THE GPS TAGGING

In addition to turtle conservation, the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve authorities tagged GPS transmitters to a batch of 12 northern river terrapin turtles, also known as Batagur baska, in 2022. The objective was to understand their survival and dispersal patterns. This project aimed to gather data on their habitat, preferred locations, breeding patterns, and movement.

Batagur Baska Centre

Jones remarked, “When we first learned about the Batagur in the 1990s, the species was already considered extinct. The data from the satellite transmitters has been invaluable, providing us with essential ecological information for the conservation of these turtles in the Sundarbans.”

OTHER SPECIES ESTIMATION

Additionally, Jones initiated the first-ever study of the population status of fishing cats and otters in the Sundarbans. Using camera traps originally set up for tiger estimation, a standard protocol was developed for assessing fishing cats, revealing a population of approximately 385 individuals. Jones noted that this baseline data will enable ongoing population assessments every 2 to 3 years.

He has led efforts to estimate population trends of the saltwater crocodile, a flagship species of the Sundarbans’ aquatic ecosystem. The last survey of these crocodiles was conducted in 2012. Jones has since spearheaded a new survey to update the data on this species.

BIRD FESTIVAL

Through his proactive efforts, Jones has initiated the Sundarban Bird Festival, the first of its kind in the region. The festival has successfully held two editions, significantly expanding the discussion on avifauna conservation in the Sundarbans.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
Mohan Yadav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Pushes for Sustainable, Community-Driven Rural Water Policy; Targets 100% Tap Coverage by March 2027
Ajay Bhadoo IAS
IAS Ajay Bhadoo Gets Extended Term as DGFT - What It Means & His Career Journey
THDCIL_Receives_ABMS_Certification_for_Integrity_and_Transparency
THDC India (THDCIL) Awarded ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Certification by BIS - Details Inside
Ministry of Environment
Environment Ministry Clarifies Petrol Vehicle Tender, Cites E-Vehicle Flexibility
Bokaro Steel Plant
PESB Selects Priya Ranjan to Head Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL’s Key Production Unit
REC Limited wins ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC (DNA) Awards
REC Limited Bags ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC
NCST Holds Review Meeting with NHPC on Implementation of Safeguards for Scheduled Tribe Employees
MP CM Collector Award Niti Aayog
Sampurnata Abhiyan: Madhya Pradesh Leads NITI Aayog Campaign; Collectors from 8 Districts Win Gold
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT