The City-dweller and the Tiger: Activity Update April 2013: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Anoop Awasthi – Conservation Officer

Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field assistants

Highlights

One voluntary work project to clean water tank used by livestock
One voluntary work project to clean area around hand pump at Sawara village
One voluntary work project to create water hole for birds
Assisted in fighting fires in forest twice
Field assistants Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols 8 times
5 nature trails for the students and youths of Fulzari, Khapa, Usaripaar, Ghoti and Ghatpendari villages
6 medical camps – 210 patients treated
3 unemployed youths from Ghatpendari placed with M.P. Forest Department in temporary work
Celebrated World Earth Day with rallies at Sawara, Ghoti and awareness meetings at Sillari and Khaapa
Organized meeting about livestock management and stall feeding at Ghatpendari, Ghatkukda and Ghoti
Organized awareness meeting on hospitality training for unemployed youths of Ghatpendari and Sillari

Conservation:

Ghatpendari - volunteers assist in fighting fire in the forest

Ghatpendari - Bandu Uikey helping contain a forest fire

On April 17, Bandu led a team of 7 villagers of Ghatpendari village in a programme to clean a water tank in the village which was clogged with plastic litter, mud, leaves and other organic waste. The team cleaned the tank, which is used by domestic livestock for drinking, as well as the surrounding area. Photos below.

On April 17, Dilip led a team of 12 children of Khapa village in a programme to construct a small water hole for birds on the bed of a stream outside the village.

Creating a small waterhole for birds outside Khapa

Water starts oozing in the waterhole dug by our volunteers

On April 20, Dilip led a team of 11 kids of Sawara village in a programme to clean the area around a hand pump. The area was choked with weeds and wild growth. Photos below.

On April 14, Dilip led 8 children from Khapa village on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Dilip spoke to the children about the importance of trees and wild life. Similar trails were organized for 13 students of Fulzari on April 3, for 9 kids of Usaripaar on April 18 and for 15 kids of Ghoti on April 26.

Children learn about conservation on a nature trail in Khapa

On April 19, Bandu led 8 youths from Ghatpendari village on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Bandu identified various species of local flora and fauna and explained the need for conservation to the youths.

Nature trail at Ghatpendari for village youths

On April 7, field assistant Bandu Uikey joined local staff of the Forest Department on an anti-poaching patrol. Bandu and members of the eco-development committee (EDC) of Ghatpendari joined similar patrolling programmes on April 19 and April 21 at Ghatpendari and Ghorad beat.

Bandu and Village EDC members set off on anti-poaching patrol
in Ghatpendari

On April 2 and April 9, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar joined local staff of the Forest Department in anti-poaching patrols along with members of the eco-development committee (EDC) of Wagholi. Similar programmes were held on April 5 and April 19 at Khapa and at Sillari on April 4.

Villagers join anti-poaching patrol in Wagholi

Anti-poaching patrol at Wagholi

Dilip with VEDC members on anti-poaching patrol in Khapa

Ghatpendari - Anoop speaks to villagers about livestock management
and stall feeding

On April 22, our team celebrated World Earth Day in 5 villages. Children of Zilla Primary Upper School, Ghoti and Zilla Primary Upper School, Sawara took out a rally led by Dilip Lanjewar and Anoop Awasthi. The children went through their respective villages, chanting conservation slogans. In 3 other villages – Khapa, Sillari and Ghatpendari – our team organized awareness meeting for the villagers in which they explained what World Earth Day represents and the need for conservation.