Activity Update February 2014: Pench Madhya Pradesh

Team: Saket Agasti – Assistant Conservation Officer

            Niranjan Hinge, Bandu Uikey – Field Assistants

Highlights

·      One voluntary work project to build a check dam near Satosha village

·      Conducted a community patrol around one village adjoining National Park

·      Thirteen environmental education programmes – addressed 456 students

·      One conservation rally by students of Satosha

·      Four nature trails for school children of Turia, Awarghani, Satosha

·      6 medical camps – treated 222 patients

Conservation:

On February 16, Niranjan Hinge organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream adjoining the jungle near Satosha village. A team of 7 people, including youths and Eco Development Committee members, assisted Niranjan in building the dam. Gunny bags were filled with sand and placed across the stream to create a dam. This will help in holding back water which would otherwise be wasted. The water body created by this dam will benefit domestic livestock (in the day) and wild animals (at night). Spotted deer and wild boar are spotted regularly in the area while wild dogs and leopards are seen occasionally. Photos below.

The completed dam

On Feb 22, Niranjan organized a wildlife conservation awareness rally of school children of Satosha village. 56 students and 2 teachers from the school took part in the rally. Students chanted various conservation slogans like: “Apna Farz nibhayenge, Jungle ko bachayenge”. Photos below.

On Feb 25, Niranjan along with 2 villagers went on a patrol along the Khamba canal near Satosha village to check whether there was any illegal activity such as poaching or felling in the area.

   

Environment Education Programme

In February, our team conducted environment education programmes in 13 schools in our area of operations.

Through a nature game, children learn how lifeforms on our planet
are linked

On February 8, 18 and 19 Niranjan took children from Turia, Awarghani and Satosha villages respectively on nature trails. The details are given in the table above. On the trails, Niranjan identified local birds and butterflies and explained their importance in the ecosystem to the students.

Children from Awarghani looking at birds through binoculars

Children from Turia on a birdwatching trail

IT Education Programme

Our programmes to bring computers to village children are running in Teliya and Turia. 

Photos below from Turia. 

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We organized 6 medical camps in February and treated 222 patients.