The spectacular laterite hills and plateaus along the coastal plains of South Karnataka are perceived as "wastelands" by the government authorities as well as local communities. This landscape supports great floral and faunal diversity throughout the year, especially in the monsoons. The current attitude towards these landscapes has led to large scale destruction of habitat due to overgrazing, quarrying and monoculture plantations for timber/fuel/pulpwood.

The project aims to fully document and assess the faunal diversity (specifically birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies) in the laterite hill landscapes of Manipal and surrounding regions in the Udupi district of southern coastal Karnataka. Surveys will be conducted to note presence of any human-wildlife conflict as well as to take down observations from the local residents regarding change in wildlife patterns over the past decade. There is currently no such data available for the region. Trained naturalists as well as volunteers from local communities, schools, universities and villages will be participating in the surveys and data collection.

We will also be using photographic and video documentation techniques to come up with various presentations and shorts films about the region and its fauna. These will incorporate the data collected through the surveys and will be used during the project to spread awareness through screenings and small festivals across the region where laterite landscapes are predominant.