Activity Update September 2020: Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

 Highlights:

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Conservation Officer:  Ajay Poddar

Field Assistant:  Kishor Dudhbarai

Highlights of the month: 

• 3 check dams constructed – 22 young villagers participated
• 2 garbage management programs to prevent human- animal conflict –75 villagers participated
• 2 foot patrols in buffer – 19 local young villagers participated 
• 3 nature games - 62 children participated  
• 3 women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) meetings were organised - 34 members attended
• 4 Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC) meetings - 46 members attended
• 3 Primary Response Teams (PRT) sensitisation meeting - 15 team members attended
• 4 livestock management meetings - 59 villagers attended
• Assisted 2 villagers to claim compensation for their cattle killed by carnivores 

Conservation Activities: See Table 1

During  September, we organised garbage management programs with villagers of Khutwanda. After the garbage collection, Conservation Officer Ajay Poddar gave a talk on cleanliness and precautions to be taken during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Programs were also organised in order 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 5 kilograms of plastic litter through public participation (shramdaan). 75 children volunteered for the programs. 

During the month, we constructed 3 check dams at different locations in the buffer area which will provide water to wildlife that often venture towards villages during dry weather spells. 22 villagers volunteered to construct the check dams.  

We also organised foot patrols during the month. Our team consists of local young villagers, who have been supporting Satpuda Foundation and the Forest Department in forest and wildlife conservation activities.  We organised patrols with our team at Khutwanda and Mudholi forest beats with forest and beat guards. During the patrol, our team observed a tiger’s (probably a sub-adult’s) pug mark around Mudholi beat and informed the range forest officer. Camera traps have been deployed by the Department after our information.   

Environment Education: See Table 2

During  September, we organised a students sensitisation drive through wildlife conservation awareness and environmental education programs in Mudholi and Bhamdeli villages. We engaged children in interactive nature game where they learned about identification of wildlife and importance of their conservation. 62 local children participated in the activities. Nature and birdwatching trails will be organised after the monsoon.   

Employment Cell: See Table 3

Due to the current lockdown situation, most of the forest dwelling communities are going through hardship. Members of women’s SHGs requested us to conduct livelihood awareness sessions, especially about oyster mushroom cultivation. During the meetings, we also discussed various articles which can be sold online.  Members also agreed to take online craft making courses with the assistance of Satpuda Foundation. 

In VEDC meetings we talked about how to prevent electrocution of wild animals. The meetings also involved primary response teams (PRTs) and Forest Department. We also discussed grazing issue and spoke about increased livestock killings by large carnivores. Some villagers have set up cattle sheds and are not allowing their cattle to graze in forest land in buffer. Types of grasses and fodder plantation were also discussed during the meetings.  

We also discussed the rising number of free-ranging unowned dogs in the village that often pose a threat to small to medium wild animals and also carry diseases with them. These dogs will be marked to be neutered by a related department/organisation.

Activity Update August 2020: Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

 Highlights:

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Conservation Officer:  Ajay Poddar

Field Assistant:  Kishor Dudhbarai

Highlights of the month: 

• 2 garbage management programmes to mitigate human-wildlife conflict –68 villagers participated
• 2 foot patrols – 19 local young villagers participated 
• 2 plantation drives- 270 saplings planted 
• 2 Nature games - 44 children participated 
• 1 nature trail- 25 children participated 
• 3 women’s SHG meetings were organised - 35 members attended
• 4 VEDC meetings- 53 members attended
• 5 livestock management meetings- 61villagers attended
• Assisted 4 villagers in filing claims for compensation for their cattle killed by carnivores 

CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES: SEE TABLE 1

During  August, we organised garbage management programmes with villagers of Mudholi and Khutwanda. After the programmes, Conservation Officer Ajay Poddar gave a talk on cleanliness and precautions to be taken during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Programmes were also organised to sanitise the area around villages, as garbage spillover and food leftovers lure wildlife into villages and cause human-wildlife conflict. We collected over 5 kilograms of plastic litter through public participation (shramdhaan). 68 villagers volunteered for the programmes. 

We also organised plantation drives with villagers. 270 saplings of different species were planted during the drives. 

We have formed groups of local young villagers who have been supporting Satpuda Foundation and the Forest Department in nature and conservation activities. During August, we organised joint foot patrols with them at Khutwanda and Mudholi along with Forest Guards. Following a recent tiger mortality case, we patrolled the beats adjoining farmlands. Patrolling teams also noted water levels of water bodies, hoof and pug marks, presence of birds etc. The young villagers were also taught about floral indicators of a biodiverse forest. 

ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION: SEE TABLE 2

During  August, we organised wildlife conservation awareness and environment education programmes in Mudholi and Bhamdeli villages. We engaged children in interactive nature games through which they learned to identify wild animals and the importance of their conservation. 44 local children participated in these activities. Nature and bird watching trails will be organised post-monsoon.   

EMPLOYMENT CELL: SEE TABLE 3

Due to the current lockdown situation, most of the forest dwelling communities are going through hardship. Members of women’s SHGs requested us to conduct programmes on alternative livelihood options, especially on oyster mushroom cultivation.  

In VEDC meetings, we talked about preventing electrocution of wild animals. The meetings included primary response teams (PRTs) and staff from the Forest Department and Electricity Board. We also discussed the issue of domestic livestock grazing in the forest which leads to increased conflict with wild animals. Some villagers have set up cattle sheds and are not sending their cattle to graze in forests area in the buffer area. 

We also discussed the rising number of free-ranging stray dogs in villages that often pose a threat to small and medium-sized wild animals. These dogs often spread infections. Such dogs will be marked to be neutered by a related department/organisation. 

Activity Update July 2020: Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

 Highlights:

THE FULL REPORT:

Team: 

Conservation Officer:  Ajay Poddar

Field Assistant:  Kishor Dudhbarai

Highlights of the month: 

• 2 garbage management programmes to mitigate human-wildlife – 55 villagers participated
• 2 foot patrols in buffer area – 19 young villagers participated 
• 2 plantation drives- 250 saplings planted 
• 3 nature games - 97 children participated 
• 1 nature trail- 25 children participated 
• 3 women’s SHG meetings were organised - 31 members attended
• 2 VEDC meetings- 33 members attended
• 3 livestock management meetings- 41 villagers attended
• Assisted 2 villagers to claim compensation for their cattle killed by carnivores 
• Global Tiger Day 2020 celebration

Conservation Activities (See Table 1)

During  July, we organised garbage management programmes at Mudholi and Khutwanda. After the programmes, Conservation Officer Ajay Poddar gave a talk on cleanliness and precautions to be taken for COVID19. The programmes were organised in order 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 5 kilograms of plastic litter through public participation (shramdhaan). 55 villagers volunteered for the drives. 

                       

Our team consists of local  young villagers, who have been supporting Satpuda Foundation and the Forest Department in nature conservation activities. 

We organised joint foot patrols at Khutwanda and Mudholi forest beats with Forest Department staff and volunteers from the villages. Keeping in focus the recent tiger mortality case, we patrolled areas adjoining farmlands. Patrolling teams also noted water levels of water bodies, hoof and pug marks, presence of birds etc. The young villagers were also taught about floral indicators of bio-diverse forests. 

Environmental Education (See Table 2)

During the month of July, we organised students’ sensitisation drive through wildlife conservation awareness and environment education programmes in Kondegaon, Ashtha, Katwal and Bhamdeli villages. We engaged children in interactive nature games through which they learned about identification of wildlife and importance of their conservation. After the wildlife conservation session, we spoke to children about the COVID19 pandemic and its impact. 122 children participated in the activities. 

Employment Cell (See Table 3)

Due to the current lockdown situation, most of the forest dwelling communities are going through hardship. Members of women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) requested us to conduct programmes on alternative livelihood options. Some members agreed to join an online craft making course with the assistance of Satpuda Foundation.

In Village Eco-Development Committee (VEDC) meetings, we talked about preventing electrocution of wild animals. We involved primary response teams (PRTs), the Forest Department and the Electricity Board. We also discussed issues associated with domestic cattle grazing inside forests and resultant attacks on cattle by wildlife. Some villagers have set up cattle sheds and do not allow their cattle to graze in forest areas. We discussed the benefits of fodder plantation and different types of grass during the meeting. 

Global Tiger Day 2020

On July 29, Global Tiger Day, we organised a plantation drive with villagers of Khutwanda and a rally to promote awareness about tiger conservation at Katwal. During the rally, children chanted slogans and displayed placards about tiger conservation. Children also put on tiger masks while rallying through the village. Villagers selected a barren spot outside the village and planted saplings of various trees.  After the rally and plantation, our colleagues Ajay Poddar and Kishor Dudhbarai spoke to participants about the significance of the day. 75 villagers participated in the rally and plantation drive.