Activity Update October 2013: Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

Team:

Ashfaq Aarbi   -   Conservation officer

Bandu Kumare – Field assistant

Highlights

·      Building of check dam at Aswal Hira spot, Moharli

·      Sapling plantation at Dewada and sapling distribution at Moharli

·      Awareness programmes for plantation in 10 villages

·      Celebration of Wildlife Week

·      Classroom visits to 10 schools as part of our environment education program – attended by 278 students

·      Film shows on nature and wildlife conservation in 10 schools – attended by 270 people

·      Participated in 3-day programme on self-employment at Chandrapur organized by Self-Employment Training Institute (Bank of India)

·      Visits to Bhagwanpur to follow up on status of relocated villagers

·      Medical camps in 6 villages  - 252 patients treated.

Conservation

In October, our Tadoba team organized sapling distribution and planting in the Moharli cluster. Shri K.V. Dhankute (Round Officer based at Moharli) participated in the distribution of saplings to school children for planting in their homes. The saplings were provided free of cost by the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (buffer wing). Species distributed included neem, anjan, karanj, kavat, shesam and jamun. On October 4, saplings were distributed and planted at Dewada and on October 8, saplings were distributed at Moharli.

Awareness programmes on plantation were held at Mudholi, Katwal, Sitarampeth, Adegaon, Moharli, Chorgaon, Junona, Bhamdeli, Kutwanda, and Kondegaon.

On October 6, we organized a team of 35 people to participate in a programme to build a check dam at Aswal Hira, a spot in the jungle near Moharli. The team comprised guides working in the National Park, two staff of the Forest Department and our field assistant Bandu Kumare. The Forest Department arranged for transport to the site, which is around 7 kms from Moharli village, and also helped provide some of the materials for the dam.  The resultant water body will benefit wildlife. Sambar and spotted deer are spotted regularly in the area with intermittent sightings of leopard. Photos below.

Wildlife week was also celebrated across the villages in our area of operations. A separate report is available on Wildlife Week celebrations.

Education

During the month, our team made classroom visits to 10 schools to educate children about nature and wildlife conservation.

Adegaon - Bandu Kumare identifies wildlife for students of the village
school

Kutwanda - Bandu conducts an environment education programme

Mudholi - Ashfaq Aarbi conducts environment education programme
in the school

Employment Cell

Bank of India’s Self-Employment Training Institute organized a 3-day programme at Chandrapur to create awareness about the different programmes they offer to train youths in self-employment skills. They invited us to attend the programme as they wish to assist youths in our area of operations. Ashfaq attended the workshop.  Some of their training programmes include tailoring, dress designing, repairing of mobiles, repairing of basic household appliances.

Education Van

During October, we organized 7 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 270 people. The details are given below:

Adegaon - film show about to begin at Udiya Tola

Dewada - film show on wildlife at Zilla Parishad School

MHU

There were health camps in 6 villages in October.

Free medical camp at Bhagwanpur

Bhagwanpur - doctor examines patient in our ambulance

Above and below: Pahami - medical camp 

Wildlife Week

During the first week of October, our team organized a series of events across both clusters to celebrate Wildlife Week. Details are in a separate report.