Activity Update January 2015: Tadoba

Team:

Bandu Kumare – Field assistant

Highlights

·      1 water conservation programme to build check dam at Chorgaon

·      2 community assistance programmes – common area of village cleaned at Kutwanda, area round hand pump cleaned at Junona

·      Anti-plastic programme in 1 village – at Kondegaon

·      Follow-up to plantation done earlier at Bhamdeli, Adegaon and Mudholi

·      1 nature trail for village youths of Moharli at Moharli Lake

·      1 nature trail for students of Sitarampeth

·      Classroom visits to 10 schools as part of environment education programme – attended by  266 students

·      Film shows on wildlife conservation in 9 village schools – attended  by 447 students

·      Medical camps in 6 villages – 157 patients treated

·      2 visits to check on status of relocated villagers of Jamni and Navegaon   

Conservation  

On January 28, our field assistant Bandu Kumare organized a programme to build a check dam around 2 km from Chorgaon. The dam was built on a stream lying between the fields and the jungle. 48 students from the village’s Zilla Parishad Primary School (ZPPS), 5 teachers and 3 youths from the village joined Bandu in the programme. The resulting water body will benefit livestock in the day and wild animals at night. Wild boar, spotted deer and blue bulls are regularly sighted in the area. Photos below.

On January 7, Bandu organized a programme at Junona to clear the area around a hand pump. Water had spilled over while people drew from the well. Over a period of time, this had created a small marshy area, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes and insects. Our team cleared the area, removing scum and organic growth and dug a canal to drain away the water. 3 youths from the village joined Bandu in the programme.

On January 16, Bandu organized an anti-plastic programme at Kutwanda in which 14 unemployed youths participated. Bandu explained the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and the need to keep plastic litter and waste buried so that they aren’t blown by the wind into jungle areas. The team cleared the main road of the village of plastic litter and waste. They also cleared the common area of the village. Photo below.

A similar anti-plastic programme was organized at Kondegaon on January 29.

On January 18, Bandu led a team of 9 youths from Moharli on a bird-watching trail around Moharli lake. On the trail, Bandu, who has worked earlier as a guide in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, explained how to spot and identify birds to the youths. As it is the season when migratory birds are seen in the area, Bandu and the team also patrolled the area around the lake to make sure that poachers had not set traps for the migratory birds. Photo below.

Bandu organized another nature trail on January 22 for students of the Zilla Parishad Primary School, Sitarampeth.

Environment Education

During January, Bandu made 10 classroom visits to speak to students of village schools on various aspects of nature and wildlife conservation.

Bamdeli - children attending to a sapling planted last monsoon

Adegaon - Bandu speaks to children about nature and wildlife

Education Van

There were 9 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation in January.

Chorgaon - Our Education Officer briefs students before film screening

MHU

6 medical camps were organized by us in January.

Karwa - Dr Sarang Pawar examining a patient