Sarbaranjan Mondal, who works in and around the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, is spearheading an ongoing project aimed at the mitigation of human-wildlife conflict in the Sundarbans. Mondal used the grant allocation of this quarter in networking with and providing various points of information and awareness to students, fishing communities and other residents of the Sundarbans. This was done through awareness programs held in community clubs, panchayats, village temples, eco-development committees and schools. Additionally, biodiversity sensitization programs with Self Help Group members, mangrove-plantation activities and nature orientation programs for students were also held. Mondal used part of the funds to provide information to field staff on any irregular observations within the PA, and in assisting them on night patrols. The fund was also used to facilitate the cleaning of plastics from the river, to hold health camps for underprivileged students, and to transport women and children to health centers during emergencies.
Binod Bora, who mitigates conflict and rescues wildlife in the militancy afflicted Karbi-Anglong hills near the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, undertook a project from February to May titled ‘Sensitization of Fringe Forest Communities along the Nagaon - Karbi Anglong Border'. As Bora's area of work involves building awareness among communities living near the park, he used the funds to implement interventions. These were aimed at finding sustainable solutions to human-elephant conflict, increasing awareness of wildlife issues among students, and increasing overall sensitivity to forests and wildlife. This involved organizing awareness camps and photo exhibitions for students on World Wildlife Day, distributing 60 blankets to impoverished villagers affected by human-elephant conflict, and hosting camps to sensitize fringe forest communities about the reasons for elephant intrusion. An elephant fodder plantation event was also organized during this quarter, with more planned for the near future.
Roheet Karoo, a young crusader associated with the Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra, worked on ‘Community Conservation and Conflict Management' in this quarter. He used the grant to visit different places, including Deolapar, Brahmpuri ,Sindewahi Pauni and Zhamkoli, for the purpose of human-wildlife conflict management. Karoo was involved in investigating tiger deaths and poaching cases, and worked as a team member with forest departments in Brahmpuri, Nagpur and Pench Tiger Reserve units in this regard. With the help of the grant, he visited some areas of human-wildlife conflict in the Greater Tadoba Landscape, and initiated awareness programmes on how to mitigate conflict for locals, especially students, in over 35 villages. He also used the grant to establish a network of ‘Wagh Mitras' or ‘Tiger Friends' in conflict areas. He provided these ‘mitras' with basic resources such as mobile recharges, and pamphlets for communication and information dissemination on the importance of biodiversity, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
