Activity Update September 2014: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Saket Agasti - Assistant Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistants

Highlights

·      One voluntary work project to clean a water tank at Kolitmara

·      One voluntary work project to clean the area near a hand pump at Sillari

·      Field assistant Bandu Uikey and Dilip Lanjewar separately joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols on 5 occasions

·      13 classroom visits as part of our environment education programme – attended by 390 students

·      Organized 8 medical camps at which 218 patients were treated

·      Took students on nature trail for bird watching three times

·      Meetings held 4 times on development of Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC) and  Self Help Group (SHG)

·      Bandu Uikey assisted 10 youths in getting employment and training

Conservation

On September 24, Dilip organized a voluntary work project to clear the area near a hand pump in Sillari village. Before the programme excessive grass and shrubs grew near the hand pump, posing threats of diseases and accidental snake bites. Our team cleaned up the area near the hand pump. Villagers were also educated about the sanitization schemes run by the Government in the area and their benefits. Photos of the hand pump area cleaning below.

On September 19, Bandu lead a team of 10 children from Kolitmara in cleaning a water tank used by domestic cattle for drinking. Algae had formed on the bottom of the tank. Our team cleaned the tank and refilled it with water. Photo below.

On September 12 and 20, Bandu took teams of school children on nature trails. On the trails, he described the various components of nature to the students. He also educated them about snakes and insects in the area. These trails were organized at Ghatpendari and Kolitmara respectively.

A similar trail was organized by Dilip at Ghoti on September 13.

Using the field guide to teach children the basics of identifying plants and
wildlife

Children from Ghatpendari learn about insects from Bandu

Bandu and Dilip joined Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC) members and Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols on a total of 5 occasions during September. The teams patrolled on the fringes of the forest, which have been known to attract poachers in the past. No illegal activities were detected on these patrols.

On patrol with members of the STPF

Community patrolling near Khapa village with VEDC members

Environmental Education Programmes

In September, there were 13 environment education programmes held in our area of operations.

Ghoti - Dilip conducts nature awareness programme

Pipariya - a game to teach children about nature

Khapa - participants in a nature game

Wagholi - a student memorizes names of plants and animals before
participating in a nature game

IT Education Programme

Satpuda Foundation has been running a programme to introduce computers to children living in the remote villages adjoining Pench Tiger Reserve in both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Foundation has installed computers in 3 villages and hired a local trainer to impart computer skills to the children. In Maharashtra, this programme is being implemented in Sawara, with computers provided by us, and in Pipariya, using the school’s computers.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

There were 8 medical camps held in September in which 218 patients were treated.

Camp at Kirangisarra

Dr Anup Burade examines a patient at Usaripar