Photo: Sanctuary PhotoLibrary.David Sobel of the Antioch University, in his essay ‘Beyond Ecophobia' (first published in Orion Magazine) wrote, “In early childhood, activities should center on enhancing the developmental tendency toward empathy with the natural world. In middle childhood, exploration should take precedence. And in early adolescence, social action should assume a more central role." He is clear that we must “Give children a chance to love the earth before we ask them to save it."
Sanctuary's Kids for Tigers' conservation programme is based on this premise - allow kids to develop an appreciation for nature and they will eventually work to protect what they love.The students were selected as Tiger Ambassadors on the basis of their year-long conservation efforts and commitment to nature protection. At the camp, they were not only exposed to the wilderness but also had the opportunity to interact with Forest Department officials and conservationists. Actress Dia Mirza, a passionate voice for the tiger in India, was also present at the Kids for Tigers' camp to interact with the students and create awareness about tiger conservation.
The selected students from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Sawai Madhopur, Chennai, Coimbatore and Bhubaneswar along with their teachers and coordinators arrived at Nagpur railway station on June 13 where they were welcomed by Sanctuary staff led by Dr. Parvish Pandya, Head, Science, Natural History and Photography, Sanctuary Asia. As they headed towards Amaltas Forest Rest House in Sillari, Dr. Pandya oriented them about the three-day camp.
After lunch, the first session of the camp was held at the auditorium where Dr. Pandya formally introduced the Tiger Ambassadors, teachers and coordinators, handed over their welcome kits and elaborate on the rules to be followed during the course of the camp. The camp participants were then taken on their first safari and had an amazing evening spotting chital, sambar, nilgai, langurs and many species of birds including Pied Hornbills, Crested Serpent Eagles and Indian Rollers.
Photo: Sanctuary PhotoLibrary.Later that evening, the participants met Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, who conducted a presentation on the park and its wildlife. A Q and A session followed after which some students shared their safari experiences and expressed their admiration for the efforts being undertaken. “The forest is quite different from the one I have seen in Similipal in Odisha. The conservation programmes being implemented here are truly commendable," said Dillip Kumar Murmu, Tiger Ambassador from Bhubaneswar, a sentiment which was echoed by all the other Tiger Ambassadors as well.
The following morning, the students joined Dr. Reddy on a nature trail that was a wonderful learning experience. On their return, a session was held to felicitate them in the presence of Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Asia, Brinda Malhotra, Head- Corporate Social Responsibility, Aircel, Dr. Reddy and Dia Mirza. “Aircel has been working diligently towards tiger conservation since 2008. It initiated the ‘Save our Tigers' campaign, which has been very successful in spreading awareness on tiger conservation over the last six years. Taking this commitment forward, we are happy to be partnering with Sanctuary Asia to work in and around the Pench National Park. The primary objective of the Kids for Tigers' National camp is to nurture our young generation, sensitise them and develop a positive mindset whereby, these kids become champions of wildlife conservation causes in the future." said Malhotra.
Another exciting nature walk with Bittu Sahgal in the evening saw the kids truly enjoy the silence and beauty of the forest. The next morning, the participants were taken to the border of the Pench Tiger Reserve which falls in two states - Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Here they formed a circle and sat on the forest floor along with the forest guards of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and were joined by Praveen Pardeshi, Principal Secretary, Forests, Government of Maharashtra, Alok Kumar, Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, Srinivasa Reddy, Dia Mirza and Bittu Sahgal. Ideas and potential solutions flowed on how people living near the forests could coexist with wildlife. The forest officials from both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh also shared the various initiatives they have undertaken to boost tourism and create livelihoods for local people. Bittu Sahgal and Dia Mirza very pertinently pointed out the hardships and challenges faced by the forest guards and everyone applauded and thanked these true protectors of our forests for their commendable work. Their morale was boosted and that was the very point of the ‘Milaap'.
“The children at this camp are being groomed to be Kids for Tigers' Ambassadors. With a new government in charge, Sanctuary intends to fire the imagination of a nation through the minds and hearts of the over one million children our Tiger Ambassadors represent across India. The young ones will reach out to their own parents and families, to politicians and media and the conservation community to let them know that saving the tiger ends up saving the entire ecosystem and the species it beholds, which in turn can help secure India's water, food and economic security in an era of climate change. In other words, save our tigers to save ourselves," said Sahgal.
Photo: Sanctuary PhotoLibrary.After they returned to the rest house, Dr. Pandya discussed the wildlife sightings made over the course of three days with the students and they shared their views and hopes for the future of wildlife in India. As they prepared to leave, the children promised to employ their knowledge and skills gained during the camp to take the message of wildlife conservation to their friends, families and take positive actions to bring about effective change.
