Activity Update December 2019: Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

Chiwanda - Villagers watch a film on wildlife conservation

Kanargaon- Students learn about wildlife through an interactive nature game

Kanargaon- Village eco-development commitee meeting
to discuss fodder plantation

Kondegaon - Members of women's self-help group attend
an awareness session on alternative livelihood options

Kondegaon - Students learn about floral diversity of the landscape
 during our nature trail

Mudholi - Local youths volunteer for our foot patrol 

Mudholi - Students collect 10 kilograms of plastic litter
 during our garbage management programme

Mudholi- Cattle owners who are willing to use cattle sheds
to reduce grazing pressure over forest

Mudholi- Students and teachers attend a classroom lecture
on wildlife conservation

Wadala- Members of village eco-development committee
and other villagers attend a meeting on human-wildlife conflict

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Conservation Officer:  Ajay Poddar

Field Assistant:  Kishor Dudhbarai

Highlights of the month: SEE TABLE 1

• 8 awareness programs on human-wildlife conflict - 155 villagers and students attended
• 2 garbage management programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict –80 students participated
• 1 foot patrol – 10 villagers participated
• 3 Nature club activities - Nature and bird watching trails and drawing competition – 76 students participated
• 8 Environment education programs - 228 students and 14 teachers attended
• Oyster mushroom cultivation training- 10 young villagers participated
• 5 women’s SHG meetings were organised - 74 members attended
• 3 VEDC meetings were organised - 66 members attended
• Free medical camps in 6 villages-  160 patients treated 

During December, we organised several meetings with villagers focusing on reducing human-wildlife conflict. We introduced them to recently released human-wildlife conflict resolution guidelines issued by the Maharashtra Forest Department.  In order to spread awareness, we spoke to the community members about potential threats and the danger of venturing into forest areas for fuel wood, mahua, tendu collection etc. As the Tadoba area has a good tiger breeding population and other large carnivores, many encounters turn fatal, often leading to retaliatory killing of wildlife by villagers. Resolving issues like garbage dumps around villages, cattle grazing, minor forest produce (MFP) collection and unemployment, help in reducing human-wildlife confrontation.  

We also focused on wildlife movement outside protected areas (PAs). Wild animals like blue bulls, spotted deer, sambar deer and wild boar also pose a threat to villagers by raiding crops, damaging property and sometimes attacking farmers. Farmers suffer losses in these depredations. Farmers were told to maximise the usage of solar-powered fencing around their farms to deter animals. Our team is preparing a list of farmers who are willing to set up solar-powered fencing around their farms.  155 villagers attended these meetings. 

We organised garbage management meetings and activities with villagers of Mudholi and Dewada. Programs were organised to sanitise the area around villages, as garbage spillover and food leftovers lure wildlife into villages and cause human-wildlife conflict. We also collected over 10 kilograms of plastic litter through public participation (voluntary work). 80 students along with their teachers volunteered for these activities.

We organised a foot patrol involving local young villagers in an area prone to hunting, mainly of birds. Our team patrolled an area of 4 kilometers along with the local forest guard. 10 people participated in the patrol. 

Environment education - SEE TABLE 2

During December, we organised environment education programs in Chiwada, Kanhargaon, Junona, Dewada, Udiyatola, Adegaon and Bhamdeli villages. We  organised these programs with students and teachers in order to make them aware of the importance of biodiversity and conservation. We taught them about nature and wildlife’s value through wildlife films, documentaries, presentations and classroom lectures. 168 students and 14 teachers participated in the programs. 

Students of Nature clubs  ‘Ashwal’ and ‘Chimni’ from Adegaon and Kondegaon  participated in interactive nature games and bird watching trails. 76 students participated in these activities. 

Employment Cell - SEE TABLE 3

We organised 3 village eco-development committee (VEDC) meetings and 5 self-help group (SHG) meetings, focusing on alternative livelihoods which would reduce dependence on forests that leads to human-wildlife conflict and degradation of forests.  140 villagers attended these meetings. In the SHG meetings, we discussed several livelihood related issues. We also formed groups of interested members who are willing to be trained in making paper bags and in embroidery. 

In Chiwanda, we introduced the villagers to mushroom cultivation and finalised a location for cultivation.  10 interested local farmers attended the meeting. 

Mobile Health Unit - SEE TABLE 4

During December, we organised free medical camps in 6 villages - Adegaon, UdiyaTola, Junona, Dewada, Bhamdeli and Sitarampeth. 160 patients were treated in our camps.