The City-dweller and the Tiger: Activity Update May 2015: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Saket Agasti - Assistant Conservation Officer

Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistants

Highlights

· One voluntary work project to build waterhole near Khapa village

· One voluntary work project to clean a waterhole at Ghatpendari

· One anti-plastic and village cleanliness drive at Ghatpendari

· One community assistance programme by repairing water pipeline at Ghatpendari

· Plantation drive in the village – 16 saplings planted

· Workshop for the farmers of buffer area on Solar-powered irrigation

· Celebrated World Biodiversity Day by organizing awareness rally

· Two nature trails for youths of villages in buffer zone

· Bandu and Dilip joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols thrice and twice respectively

· Organized village meetings at Ghatpendari, Ghatkukda and Wanera to discuss village development issues through Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC)

· Two women’s Self Help Group (SHG) meetings held to introduce capacity building opportunities

· Organized 6 medical camps at which 160 patients were treated, including two special camps for ladies

Conservation

Bandu demonstrates how to plant saplings to school children

In May 27, Dilip and team of 13 villagers of Khapa village built a waterhole for wildlife of the area. The water hole is situated in the buffer zone, 50 meters from the core area of Pench Tiger Reserve. This water body will provide water to wild animals as water is scarce in this area during summer. Deer, wild boar, jackals are regularly seen while tigers and leopards are spotted more occasionally in this area.

On May 22, Bandu organized a voluntary work project at Ghatpendari to clean a waterhole in the jungle around 1 km from the village. 8 villagers participated in the programme. The waterhole was covered with leaves and clogged with other organic litter, making it difficult for animals to access the water. This waterhole is the only source of water for animals in the area and it is important to maintain it, particularly as water is scarce in summer. Deer, wild boar, gaur and monkeys are regularly spotted around the waterhole while tigers and leopards are sighted occasionally.

On May 9, Bandu organized an anti-plastic and village cleanliness drive in Ghatpendari village. 30 children and villagers participated in the event. The drive intended to clear the garbage in the village which attracts stray dogs. The presence of stray dogs, in turn, raises the possibility of leopards entering the villages. Villagers were educated about human-wildlife conflict and possible methods to resolve such conflict after the programme.

Removing roadside garbage

Cleaning a water tank

On May 9, Bandu took the initiative to repair a damaged water pipeline in Ghatpendari. Due to the damage, the villagers were walking 400 meters outside the village for water. Repairing the line provided water in the village to the villagers.

Repairing the damaged water pipeline at Ghatpendari

On May 10, a workshop on solar powered irrigation for farmers of Pipariya, Salai, Ghoti, Sillari and Wagholi villages was organized at SF’s community resource center at Pench. 25 farmers attended the event and were educated about the use of solar power in farming and government aid available for installing solar-powered units. Installation of solar powered irrigation systems for farming will cut down the need for electric power lines going through the buffer areas, which will reduce the incidents of wildlife getting killed by electrocution.

Saket explains placement of solar panels to farmers

Local farmers at our Community Resource Centre at Pench

On May 22, World Biodiversity Day was celebrated at Kadbikheda village. A rally of students was organized to spread awareness about the local biodiversity among the villagers. Children chanted slogans like “Apna farz nibhayenge, Apna jungle bachayenge” (meaning, “We will fulfill our duty to safeguard our forest”) in the rally. Photo below.

Dilip joined VEDC members and Forest Department staff on patrols on May 3 and May 31 at Wagholi and Khapa. The teams patrolled the borders of the villages, checking for signs of illegal activities. Bandu joined similar patrols on May 1, 17 and 31 near Ghatpendari in West Pench Range. No illegal activity was detected on these patrols.

Community forest patrol near Ghatpendari, with Round Officer KB Chauhan

In May, Bandu and Dilip took students on 2 nature trails during which they spoke to the students about birds, trees and forests. The impact of degradation of natural resources was explained to the students. Photo below: Trail with Ghatpendari children.

In May, our team organized 3 meetings of VEDC members and unemployed youths to discuss village development, conservation and livelihood. We also organized 2 meetings of SHG members to educate them about various products they can make and sell.

Women's SHG meeting at Kadbikheda

Environmental Education Programmes

There was no education programme in May due to summer vacation at local schools.

Education Van Programme

There was no film show in May due to summer vacations at local schools.

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

There were 6 medical camps in May in which 160 patients were treated. In 2 camps a lady volunteer, Dr. Ela Kulkarni treated women and educated them about prevention of common women health problems.