Activity Updates October 2013: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Saket Agasti - Assistant Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistants

Highlights

·      Celebrated wildlife week from Oct 1 – Oct 7 by organizing various conservation activities

·      One voluntary project to repair the access road at Kirangisarra

·      One project to clean a lake after “Dussera” near Ghatpendari

·      Two projects to clean water tanks used by public and cattle

·      One project to clean school premises at Ghatpendari

·      Field assistants Bandu Uikey and Dilip Lanjewar joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols six times

·      One nature trail near Ghatpendari village

·      Environment education programme in 13  villages in which we addressed 391 students

·      Two film shows were organized – attended by 321 villagers

·      Assisted 12 villagers in organizing tribal dance show

·      Organized village meeting on relocation at Fulzari

·      6 medical camps – 237 patients treated

Conservation

October 1-7 was “Wildlife Week”. To celebrate we organized various programmes during the week to promote conservation in the villages in our area of operations.

On October 30, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar organized a voluntary work project at Ghoti village. Villagers under Dilip’s guidance cleaned water tanks made for cattle of the village. As there is scarcity of water in the area, tanks were built for cattle. Photos below.

Below: Volunteers clean water tank used by villagers, Kolitmara




































On October 12, 18 and 20, field assistant Bandu Uikey assisted village eco-development committee (VEDC) members in patrolling areas in West Pench. Similarly, Dilip joined in patrols in East Pench on October 24, 25, 31. While patrolling near Khapa, pugmarks of a tigress were found. Pictures were taken of the pugmarks and conveyed to the Forest Department for monitoring.


Below: Bandu assisting VEDC patrols in West Pench

Below: Dilip Lanjewar with VEDC and Forest Guard Mr Meshram, patrolling in Wagholi and Khapa

Tiger pug mark seen by VEDC members on patrol

On October 19, a meeting was organized at Ghoti village with an agenda to form a VEDC. Round Officer Mr. Bansod, Assistant Conservation Officer Mr. Saket Agasti, and . Dilip Lanjewar talked with the villagers and cleared their doubts about the topic and explained the process to be followed.

Photos below.

On October 9, a meeting was organized at Ghatkukda to create awareness about hybrid cattle, as an alternative to cattle which do not produce milk. Various aspects were discussed and Government schemes were explained to the villagers regarding the use of alternate resources, which will help in decreasing pressure on forests. Range Forest Officer (RFO) Mr. Deshpande and Bandu talked to the villagers on all these issues. Photos below.






Environmental Education Programmes

In October, our team conducted environment education programmes in 12 schools in our area of operations. 

Nature game to teach conservation, at Pipariya school

Bandu Uikey conducts environment education class at Ghatpendari School

Khapa - education programme conducted by our Education Officer
Mandar Pingle

Education programme in Fulzari conducted by Dilip Lanjewar

Pipariya - Dilip speaks to children about nature and conservation

Bandu leads village children on nature trail at Jamun Nallah, West Pench

Employment Cell

We assisted 12 villagers from Sawara to organize a Tribal Dance Show at Mahua Van Resort.
Photos below.

Education Van Programme

There were 2 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation in October.

Film show at Kolitmara

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

Our team assisted Nature Conservation Society, Amravati in conducting 6 medical camps in October. 

Kirangisarra medical camp

Free medical camp at Usripar