Activity Update March 2014: Pench Madhya Pradesh

Team: Saket Agasti – Assistant Conservation Officer

            Niranjan Hinge, Bandu Uikey – Field Assistants

Highlights

·      One programme to clean waterhole to celebrate World Forestry Day near Turia village

·      One programme to clean waterhole to celebrate World Water Day near Aamajhari  village

·      One voluntary work project to repair hand pump  at Turia village

·      One rally to celebrate World Wildlife Day at Khamrith village

·      Two nature trails for school children of Turia and  Satosha

·      Three film shows on nature and wildlife – viewed by 119 students

·      Three classroom lectures on nature and wildlife conservation - addressed 93 students

·      6 medical camps at which 169 patients were treated

Conservation

On March 3, World Wildlife Day was celebrated by our team and the occasion was used to spread the message of wildlife conservation in the villages where we work. A rally was organized in which 30 students from Khamrith went through the village, chanting conservation slogans. Photos below.

On March 21, World Forestry Day, we organized programmes to explain the importance of forests to students of Khamrith, Turia and Aamajhari. Classroom lectures and various nature games were organized by our team to promote awareness about conservation among the students.

Classroom talk at Khamrith

Nature game at Turia on World Forestry Day

On March 22, we celebrated World Water Day at Aamajhari by organizing a programme to clean a water hole near the village. The importance of water to both villagers as well as wildlife was explained to the volunteers participating in the programme. During the programme, our team removed organic litter from the water body, which is adjacent to the forest near the village. This water body is used by various animals like spotted deer, wild boar and jackals during the summer.

On March 30 and 31, Niranjan took children from Satosha and Turia respectively on nature trails to teach them the basics of spotting and identifying birds. He spotted local birds in the area such as Indian Rollers, herons, lapwings, black drongo. The role of birds in nature was also explained to the children.

Birdwatching trail - children from Turia

On March 31, with the help of villagers from Turia, Niranjan installed water pots on trees in the village. As the summer has started, birds are facing increasing difficulty in finding water. The pots placed on trees will provide water to the birds. Photos below.

Environmental Education Programme

In March, our team visited 3 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

IT Education Programme

Satpuda Foundation is running a programme to introduce computers to village children. In Pench 
(M P), this programme is being implemented in Teliya and Turia.

Education Van Programme

There were 3 film shows on nature and wild life conservation during March.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We held 6 medical camps in March in which 169 patients were treated.

Patient at the Durgapur medical camp

Patient registration at Durgapur