Satpuda Foundation Nagpur has
focussed on celebrating Wildlife Week with tribal students and villages
situated in the Tiger Reserves in central India. SF had organized many events
for tribal children and villages of Tadoba-Andhari, Pench (Maharashtra), Pench
(Madhya Pradesh) and Kanha Tiger Reserve.
TADOBA-ANDHARI TIGER RESERVE
We arranged activities in 8 schools of villages around
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). We arranged two nature trails for students
of village schools, three conservation rallies, one essay-writing competition,
two drawing competitions, one nature
game and a plantation programme for the tribal kids of TATR.
Wildlife Week was celebrated
with great enthusiasm in these eight villages adjoining Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve where we operate. Our TATR Field officer Bandu Kumare
spared no efforts in making the programme a success.
The week-long programme was
started with a nature trail for the students of Zilla Parishad Primary School
(ZPPS), Chorgaon. Bandu, who formerly worked as a guide in the National Park,
took students for a walk through the jungle adjoining the village in which he
helped them identify various species of local flora and fauna. On the walk, he
also explained to the children the importance of nature and wildlife and
the need to conserve it. The significance of Wild Life Week was also
explained to them.
On the same day, October 1, our team took students of ZPPS, Adegaon on a rally through the village. The
children walked through their village, chanting slogans in favour of nature and
wildlife conservation. Some of the slogans were: Jadey lagwa, jadey jagwa, paani
adwa, paani jirwa, jal hai to jungle hai, jungle hai to jal
hai, tiger hai to hum hai, hum hai to jungle hai.
On October 2 we organized an essay-writing contest for students of ZP upper Primary School, Katwal. The students wrote essays about Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. The essays were judged by the school headmaster.
On the same day, our team attended
a meeting organized by the Forest Department at Moharli at which Round Office
Dhanolkar spoke to the villagers about the role of wildlife and nature in our
lives and the need to conserve it. Dhanolkar also used the occasion to speak
about the functioning of eco-development committees.
On October 3, our team led a rally of students of ZP upper Primary School, Moharli. The children walked through their village, chanting slogans in favour of nature and wildlife conservation.
On the same day, our team
organized a drawing contest for students of ZPPS, Kondegaon. Students drew
pictures of various animals and birds.
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| Kondegaon: a message written with flowers that had fallen from tree |
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| Kondegaon: displaying their drawings after the contest |
On October 4, we organized a plantation programme at the ZP upper PS campus, Mudholi. Saplings of neem, sivan and karanj were planted.
On the same day, our team also
organized a nature trail and conservation rally at Kutwanda.
On October 5, a drawing contest was organized at Adegaon.
On October 6, our team organized a nature game with a conservation message at ZPPS, Sitarampeth. The game’s focus was on conveying the message that every life form is important in the chain of life on the planet.
PENCH TIGER RESERVE (MAHARASHTRA)
Our Pench team organized activities in a total of 13
villages in PTR. We conducted 7 nature trails for students of village schools, 9
conservation rallies, 5 essay-writing competitions, 9 drawing competitions, 1
face-painting programme, 4 rangoli contests and also started a nursery in the school. SF
conducted two film shows on wild life and nature conservation, 1 nature game, 2
lectures, 6 nature quizzes, one anti-plastic programme, one awareness programme
during Wildlife week.
A wide range of activities marked Wildlife Week celebrations
in Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Our team of Anoop Awasthi (Conservation
Officer), Bandu Uikey and Dilip Lanjewar (field assistants) reached out to 13
villages to ensure widespread participation.
The week-long programme was started with a conservation
rally at Sawara, in which 90 students of the village’s Government Middle School
(GMS) participated. The children marched through their village, chanting
slogans in favour of nature and wildlife conservation. Some of the slogans
were: makda makda hoop hoop, jhade lawa
khoob khoob;Jungle nadi ki ma hai, jhade lawu kasa sathi, koti koti punya
sathi; pani adwa paani jirwa.
Similar rallies were organized at Kadbikheda, also on October 1, Zinzeriya and
Ghatpendari on October 3, Pipariya and Salai on October 4, Khapa and Kolitmara
on October 5, Ghoti on October 6 and Aamajhari on October 6.
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| Dilip Lanjewar takes students out on a conservation rally- Kadbikheda |
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| Sawara - conservation rally |
Our team organized drawing contests in 9 schools in which children were asked to draw their impressions on nature and wildlife. The contests were held at Sawara and Kadbikheda on October 1, Fulzari on October 2, Zinzeriya on October 3, Pipariya on October 4, Khapa, Sillari and Kolitmara on October 5 and Ghoti on October 6. Essay-writing contests were held in 5 schools in which students were asked to write about environment conservation. The contests were held at Ghoti on October 2, Zinzeriya on October 3, Pipariya on October 4, Kolitmara and Sawara October 5.
Seven nature trails were organized during Wildlife Week – at Kadbikheda on October 1, at Fulzari and Ghoti on October 2, at Ghatpendari on October 3, at Salai and Pipariya on October 4, and at Kolitmara on October 5. Our team spoke to the children about the importance of nature and wildlife and taught them how to spot and identify birds.
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| Kadbikheda: Dilip Lanjewar identifies plants for the students |
Contests were organized in 4 villages in which children were asked to draw wildlife and nature on the ground using traditional Indian art of rangoli. The contests were held at Sawara on October 1, Zinzeriya on October 3, Pipariya on October 4 and at Ghoti on October 6.
As a special activity during this week, we helped one school set up a nursery. SF team gave 100 bags to the Government Middle School, Sawara along with seeds of heta, kaner and neem.
We also organized two film shows
on nature and wild life conservation at Kadbikheda on October 1 and at
Zinzeriya on October 3.
Our team organized 6 quiz programmes to test the knowledge of students about wildlife and nature. The first was held on October 3 at Ghatpendari, then at Salai on October 4, at Kolitmara, Khapa and Sillari on October 5 and at Narhar on October 6.
PRIYARDARSHINI PENCH TIGER RESERVE (MP)
We organized activities in ten villages around Priyadarshini
Pench Tiger Reserve Madhya Pradesh. Our team arranged four nature trails for
students of village schools, seven conservation rallies, 6 essay-writing
competitions, 6 drawing competitions, 5 rangoli contests, started 4 nurseries
in schools and also organised 2 film shows on wildlife and nature conservation.
Wildlife Week was celebrated with great enthusiasm in 10
villages adjoining Priyadarshini Pench Tiger Reserve (MP) where we operate. The
SF team team of Anoop Awasthi (Conservation Officer), Bandu Uikey and Niranjan Hinge
(field assistants) organized a range of activities to celebrate the Week.
The week-long programme started with a conservation rally at
Awarghani, in which 33 students of the village’s Government Primary School
(GPS) participated. The children marched through their village, chanting
slogans in favour of nature and wildlife conservation. Some of the slogans
were: Apna farz Nibaenge, tiger ko
bachaenge; apna farz nibaenge, Pariyavaran bachaenge; hum sab ne ye thana hai, Pariyavaran bachana
hai; hum sab ne ye thana hai, tiger ko bachana hai.
Similar rallies were organized at Doodhgaon on October 1,
Tuyepani on October 2, Khamrith on October 3, Turia on October 4, Telia on
October 5 and Aamajhari on October 6.
Essay-writing contests were held in 6 schools in which students were asked to write about environment conservation. The contests were held at Doodhgaon on October 1, Tuyepani on October 2, Khamrith on October 3, Turia on October 4, Telia on October 5 and Aamajhari on October 6.
Four nature trails were organized
during Wildlife Week – at Aawarghani and Satosha on October 1 and at Khamba and
Ambadi on October 2. Field assistant Niranjan Hinge led the students on the
trails. Niranjan, who had worked as a guide in the National Park earlier, spoke
to the children about the importance of nature and wildlife and taught them how
to spot and identify birds.
Contests were organized in 5
villages in which children were asked to draw wildlife and nature on the ground
using the traditional Indian art of rangoli. The contests were held at Tuyepani
on October 2, Khamrith on October 3, Turia on October 4, Telia on October 5 and
Aamajhari on October 6.
As a special activity during this week, we helped four schools set up nurseries. We gave 100 bags to each school, along with seeds of heta, kaner and neem.
The nurseries
were set up at Tuyepani on October 2, Khamrith on October 3, Telia on October 5
and Aamajhari on October 6.
We also organised two film shows on nature and wild life conservation at Turia and Tuyepani, both on October 2.
KANHA NATIONAL PARK
Our Kanha team organized activities in 12 schools around
Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. SF organised seven conservation rallies
and 11 drawing competitions.
Wildlife Week was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the 12
villages adjoining Kanha Tiger Reserve where we operate. Our team of Amit
Awasthi and Sampathlal Dhurve organized conservation rallies and drawing
contests to celebrate the Wild Life Week.
SF team kicked off the week with drawing contests for the
students of Government Primary School (GPS), Manegaon and Government Middle
School (GMS), Patpara. Students of both schools also took part in conservation
rallies, in which they walked through their respective villages chanting
slogans and holding up placards with conservation messages. Slogans included: jungle hi jivan hai, tan man dan sabse upar
van, van evam vanya praniyon ki raksha karen.
On October 3, drawing contests and rallies were organized for the students of Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) School, Chapri, GPS Chapri, and GPS, Sautiya.
On October 4, a drawing contest and rally was organized for students of GMS, Mocha.
On October 5, a combined drawing contest and rally was organized for students of GMS, Dhamangaon, EGS School Bhagpur and EGS School Samaiya.
On October 6, drawing contests
were organized for students of GPS, Kutwahi, GPS/GMS Batwar.
Satpuda Foundation, Plot No.17, 201 Sapphire Apt, Puranik Layout, Bharat Nagar, Amravati Road, Nagpur-440001, ph.0712-2557320, E-mail : satpuda@gmail.com, www.satpuda.org
