Activity Update May 2013: Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

Team:  Bandu Kumare – Field assistant

On May 6, one sloth bear was found dead next to the road leading from Pangdi to Kolsa lake. It was badly injured and appeared to have died from wounds received in fighting. The dead bear was spotted by our MHU team.

Kolasa - carcass of sloth bear, apparently killed in a fight
with another bear or tiger

On May 8, a dead leopard was found at Agarzari, around 0.5 km from Navargaon chowki in compartment no 190. The carcass was spotted by a tourist guide of the buffer zone. The leopard had broken bones in its back and the doctor who did the post-mortem suggested that the injuries were due to a fight with a wild boar. There were hoof marks of a wild boar in the area. The leopard was a female.

Near Agarzari - the leopard was apparently killed by a boar

Highlights

• Awareness programme on forest fires in 1 village
• Follow-up to plantation done during the monsoon in 4 villages
• Anti-plastic programmes in 3 villages
• Programme to clean soak pit in 1 village
• Two shramdhaans to clean area around hand pumps
• Water pots put up for birds in 2 villages
• Cleaning of 3 water bodies used by wildlife
• 2 nature trails for village children
• 1 conservation rally
• Medical camps in 6 villages  - 208 patients treated
• Two visits to Bhagwanpur to follow up status of relocated villagers

Conservation

As part of our seasonal activities every summer, we organize awareness programmes on forest fires – the harmful effects of the fires on nature and wildlife and how to prevent or contain them. In May, Bandu organized one such programme on May 23 at Junona.

Awareness programme on forest fire prevention

During May, Bandu also organized programmes to follow-up on plantation done during the monsoon months. Last year, during the monsoon, we had arranged for planting of saplings in different villages. Now, we are following up to ensure that the saplings get enough water as well as protection from grazing livestock. Details are given in the table above.

Sitarampeth - children tend to saplings they'd planted last year

On May 15, Bandu organized an anti-plastic programme at Kutwanda in which school students cleaned up the main village road of plastic litter and waste. The litter/waste was then buried in pits. Similar anti-plastic programmes were organized at Bamdeli on May 21 and on May 24 at Dewada.

Kutwanda - clean-up drive

On May 7, Bandu organized a programme to clean the area around a hand pump at Adegaon. Spillover water from the hand pump had stagnated around the pump. 2 students from the village school joined hands with Bandu in the programme. The team dug a canal to drain the spillover water away and cleaned the area of organic waste and litter which had accumulated there. A similar programme was organized on May 16 at Dewada, in which 3 youths from the village joined hands with Bandu.

Dewada - cleaning the area next to the handpump

Dewada - spillover water drains away through a ditch dug
by our volunteers

Similarly, a soak pit which had filled up with organic litter was cleaned up in a programme organized by Bandu on May 24 at Kutwanda.

During May, Bandu also organized programmes to clean 3 water bodies in the jungle used by wildlife. The bodies had become clogged with organic waste and scum. Our volunteers cleaned the bodies to enable wildlife to have access to the water.

Moharli - Bandu and a volunteer clean a waterhole in the jungle

During summer, our teams across the landscape motivate villagers and children to put up water pots in suitable spots so that birds can quench their thirst. Bandu arranged for pots to be put up in 2 villages – Adegaon and Kondegaon.

Education

There were no classroom programmes in May as schools were shut for the summer holiday.

During May, Bandu organized 2 nature trails for school students of Adegaon (May 23) and Moharli (May 29). On the trails, Bandu helped the children identify various birds and plants and spoke to them about nature and wildlife conservation.

Nature trail and class, Adegaon

On the occasion of Maharashtra Day (May 1), Bandu organized a drawing contest for school children of Moharli. The theme was nature and wildlife. About 20 children participated in the contest.

Drawing contest at Moharli

On the same day, Bandu also organized a conservation rally at Kutwanda in which 27 students from the village school participated. The children marched through the village, chanting conservation slogans. 2 teachers from the school and 2 support staff also participated.

Kutwanda - children and teachers on a conservation rally

MHU

There were health camps in 6 villages in May.

Pangdi - a mother registers her child for free treatment at our medical camp

Karva - villagers come for treatment to our free medical camp

Employment Cell

Adegaon - Bandu discusses livelihood training programmes
with unemployed girls