Activity Update December 2019: Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

Ambazari beat - Volunteers patrol the jungle 

Ghatpendari - Our colleague Bandu assists villagers
in applying for compensation for crop damaged by wildlife

Ghatpendari - Our colleague Bandu inspects crop damage
caused by wild animals

Kirangi Sarra - Women attend awareness meeting on Self-Help Groups
(SHGs)

Sawara - Students learn about local plants on our nature trail 

Shiladevi - Check dam built by our volunteers

Shiladevi - Villagers build a check dam 

Shiladevi - Our cattle vaccination drive

 Sillari - Villagers who attended our workshop on Primary Response Teams

Suwardhara - Students of village school set off on our nature trail 

Usaripar - Women villagers attend our meeting
to promote awareness about SHGs

Wanera - Our colleague Balkrishna conducts
an environment education programme in the village school

Sawara - a nature game to explain conservation concepts

Team: 

Bandu Uikey – Assistant Conservation Officer
Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistant
Balkrishna Bagmare – Field Assistant

Highlights 

• Organised training workshop for ‘Primary Response Team’ to reduce and prevent human-wildlife conflict; 32 young villagers participated
• 3 foot patrols in forest organised; 15 villagers participated
• 1 check dam constructed and 1 check dam repaired; 27 villagers volunteered to help
• Assisted  Forest Department in organising one-day nature camp; 78 students participated
• Assisted Forest Department and Animal Husbandry Department staff in cattle vaccination program; 225 cattle vaccinated
• Organised 16 classroom nature education programs; 443 students attended 
• Helped 8 young villagers get jobs
• One women’s self help group (SHG) of 12 members  formed in Shiladevi
• Treated 208 patients in free health camps in 6 villages
• Assisted 2 villagers to apply for compensation for crop damage by wild animals; provided information regarding compensation scheme to villagers

Activity - SEE TABLE 1

On 14 December, Balkrishna Bagmare led 5 villagers of Suwardhara on a forest foot patrol. Forest guard Mr Sunil Waghmare along with forest labourer Mr Duryodhan Dhurve joined the team. During the patrol, the team searched for signs of the presence and movement of wild animals like tiger, leopard, sloth bear and herbivores, in the forest area adjoining the village. Human-wildlife conflict can be prevented by alerting the villagers beforehand when there are signs of the presence of wild animals. The patrolling team also looked out for signs of illegal activities like encroachments on forest lands, tree felling and grazing. However no signs of any illegal activities were recorded. 

Similar foot patrols were organised by Balkrishna with 5 villagers of Shiladevi on December 15 and by Dilip Lanjewar on 22 December with 5 villagers from Khapa. No illegal activities were reported during either of these patrols.

On 26 December, a Primary Response Team (PRT) workshop was organised at Amaltas Complex in Sillari. Satpuda Foundation organised the workshop jointly with the Maharashtra Forest Department. 32 young villagers from Sawara, Usripar, Ghoti, Kadbikheda and Khapa villages of Pauni Unified Control Range (UFC) (buffer area) of Pench Tiger Reserve participated in the workshop. The workshop aimed to teach the villagers ways to prevent and reduce human-wildlife conflict. The trainers and trainees discussed the concept of ‘co-existence’ with wildlife. Issues such as crop damage, cattle kill or attacks on humans by wild animals and ways to prevent such incidents were discussed. Information on the Government’s compensation scheme for such losses was given to the attendees. The members of the primary response teams have volunteered to assist Forest Department staff in preventing and reducing human-wildlife conflict. The teams will participate in regular forest patrols around their villages and create awareness about these issues amongst their fellow villagers. During the workshop, Mr Pratik Modwan, Range Forest Officer – Pauni UFC range along with Satpuda Foundation’s Conservation Officers Mandar Pingle and Bandu Uikey and field assistant Dilip Lanjewar guided the young villagers through audio-visual presentations and interactive discussions.

On 5 December, Dilip Lanjewar organised a voluntary work program to repair a check dam on a stream in Shivkund near Wagholi village. 15 volunteers from Wagholi village took part in the voluntary work program and assisted in removing waste accumulated near the check dam and rearranged the sand bags used earlier for construction of the dam. Some of the sand bags were dislodged during the monsoon rains, damaging the dam. By repairing and cleaning the area around the check dam, the flow of water in the stream was arrested once more. This check dam will prove beneficial for both farmers and wild animals.

On 24 December, Balkrishna Bagmare along with 12 volunteers from Shiladevi constructed a check dam on a stream located in the fields, 500 meters away from the village. Sand-filled gunny bags, boulders and rocks were used to construct the dam. Thanks to this check dam, water will be available for farmers up to February. Earlier, the water availability was up to mid-January.

On 13 December, a cattle vaccination program was organised by Animal Husbandry Department and Maharashtra Forest Department. Bandu Uikey assisted in the program by encouraging villagers to get their cattle vaccinated. By vaccinating the cattle, spread of diseases from domestic animals to wildlife can be prevented as domestic animals often stray into the forest in search of fodder. Bandu encouraged 70 villagers to vaccinate 150 cows from the village.

Similarly, Balkrishna encouraged 25 villagers from Shiladevi village to vaccinate 75 cattle.

On 19 December, Balkrishna took  78 students of Zilla Parishad schools of Suwardhara, Shiladevi, Ambazari and Saleghat on nature trails. A one-day nature camp was organised by Maharashtra Forest Department for which Satpuda Foundation provided the trainers. Balkrishna taught students the ecological importance of birds, insects and animals. Students spotted numerous birds, spiders and saw signs of wildlife during the nature trails.

On 21 December, Dilip Lanjewar took 20 students of Zilla Parishad school of Sawara village on a nature trail. During the trail, Dilip taught the students to observe birds found in the forest area near their village. Dilip explained that birds are indicators of health of ecosystem. 

Classroom education - SEE TABLE 2

In December 2019, Satpuda Foundation staff organised 16 classroom programs to sensitise students on wildlife conservation and environment protection issues.  443 students were present during these sessions. 

Employment, Placements and Trainings - SEE TABLE 3

In December, our staff assisted 8 young villagers to get jobs. 

Balkrishna organised a meeting of women from Shiladevi on 1 December and assisted 12 women to form an SHG called ‘Parivartan Mahila Bachat Gat’. Mrs Indravati Acchelal Naikam was elected as president of the group. Balkrishna assisted the group to open a bank account and register itself with Panchayat Samiti, Parseoni taluka.

On 12 December, Dilip Lanjewar organised a meeting of 30 women from Usripar village to explain benefits of self help groups. Dilip explained that by forming SHGs, the members can improve their economic condition, support each other in times of emergency and raise issues pertaining to women during village meetings. He also gave information regarding various schemes being implemented by government agencies for women’s self help groups. Range Forest Officer, Pauni UFC range Mr Modwan was also present during the meeting. He provided information regarding benefits that can be availed of by the women’s self help groups through 'Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Jan Van Yojna' being implemented by the Maharashtra State Forest Department.

A similar meeting was organised by Dilip in Kirangi Sarra village, attended by 18 women.

Mobile Health Unit - SEE TABLE 4

There were 6 medical camps held in December in which 208 patients were treated.