Forest guard Shailendra Mandraik’s dedication to biodiversity conservation has culminated in the release of Flora of Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary during the concluding ceremony of Wildlife Week 2026 in Shimla.
The book documents nearly 280 plant species found in the sanctuary under the Sarahan Wildlife Division. Mandraik spent five to six years studying, identifying and documenting plant species across the sanctuary’s challenging mountainous terrain.
Describing the publication as a collective achievement, Mandraik said, “This is not my book, but the book of my entire Forest Department,” acknowledging the guidance and support of senior officers and colleagues.
The release highlights the contribution frontline forest personnel can make to scientific research and biodiversity conservation through sustained fieldwork.
Other publications released during the ceremony covered forest and wildlife crime investigation, water quality analysis, vulture conservation, the Wildlife Division’s annual report for 2025–26, and butterflies of Durgesharanya in Kangra.
Mandraik’s work is expected to serve as a useful reference for forest staff, students and researchers studying the region’s rich plant diversity.
