Monday, January 15, 2018

Activity Update November 2017: Satpura Tiger Reserve


Highlights:

Cleaning up plastic litter and other trash from the area adjoining
the jungle, Jhirpa

Clean-up drive at Satdhara

Soak pit being dug in Matkuli
Check dam being built by students near Matkuli
Completed check dam in Matkuli
Building a check dam near Mehendikheda

The check dam near Mehendikheda

Cleaning an existing water body near Mehendikheda
Field Assistant Hameed gives a talk on nature conservation at Pisuwa school
Wildlife film screening at Jhirpa

Our free health camp at Matkuli
Dr Ashutosh Tiwari at our free health camp at Karer
THE FULL REPORT

Team: Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer
            Hameed Khan – Field assistant

Highlights
·      11 water conservation voluntary work programmes during the month – built 5 check dams, 3 water bodies cleaned, 1 soak pit dug, 2 old soak pits cleaned
·      4 anti-plastic programmes waste
·      Classroom visits to 14 schools as part of our environment education program – attended by 859  students
·      8 films shows on wildlife and nature conservation- attended by 734 children
·      11 youths from relocated and buffer zone villages placed in jobs
·      Medical camps in 6 villages - 131 patients treated
·      Visit to check on status of  8 villages which have already been relocated

Conservation

















During November, we organised 11 programmes related to water conservation and 4 anti-plastic programmes.

On November 1, we organised an anti-plastic and awareness programme to clean village roads and prominent common places at Pisuwa. A total of 35 people participated in this programme, including Sarpanch Laxmi Yadav, local villagers and students.        

Three similar programmes were organised at Aaritodiya, Matkuli and Jhirpa on November 4, 7 and 18.

On November 15, we organised a programme to dig a soak pit at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir School, Matkuli. A team comprising of 1 teacher and 16 students joined hands with Hameed in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump on the school premises. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump.

On the same day, we also organised programmes to clean two old soak pits which had become clogged with organic waste.

On November 19, we organised a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 2 km from Mehandikheda village. A team comprising of 17 students and 1 teacher from Government Primary School Mehandikheda and Hameed built the dam. The resultant water body will benefit wildlife. Spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are spotted in the area.

Similar programmes were organised at Mehandikheda, Matkuli and Pisuwa on November 22, 23 and 25.

On November 28, we organised a programme to clean a water body in the jungle around 3 km from Mehandikheda village. The water body was covered with leaves and organic litter and animals were finding it difficult to drink. Our team, consisting of field assistant Hameed Khan, 1 teacher and 15 children from Government Primary School, Mehandikheda cleared the litter and made the water body accessible to the animals again. Spotted deer are regularly spotted around these water bodies while there are occasional sightings of sloth bears, wild dogs, bison and leopards.

Two similar programmes were organised at Matkuli on November 28.

Education

During the month, our team organised 14 lectures to educate students about nature and wildlife conservation.















Education Van

During November, our team conducted a total of 8 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation.



















Employment Cell

During November, we helped 11 youths from relocated and buffer villages get jobs in Nagpur. Dhiru Dhurve, of Pisuwa, had got a job in Nagpur some years ago. Subsequently, he has stayed in touch with us and recently, he told us about opportunities available in Nagpur. We then motivated and organised youths from local villages to apply for the jobs.  Details of the placements are as follows:


























Mobile Health Service (MHS)

Satpuda Foundation organises medical camps at which villagers get free treatment and medicines. These camps, whose schedule is set in conjunction with the management of the Satpuda Tiger Reserve, are run by the Mobile Health Service (MHS) of Satpuda Foundation.

There were health camps in 6 villages in November.





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