Hope for Sunderbans' villagers

Shakeela Bibi's husband was killed by a crocodile in the brackish waters of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, in India's West Bengal.

The high density of humans adjacent to the forests here means the eternal presence of conflict. After her husband's death, Bibi faced the threat of a tiger straying out of the forest, regularly, into her village. In response, WWF-India set up a solar powered light in front of her home, in February-March this year. The light's brightness has reportedly been discouraging tigers from venturing out into this area.

Among other things, I saw hope in this lady's eyes. Hope, that the tiger will never return to her home. Hope, due to WWF's intervention

Work ‘For a living Planet’

WWF’s outreach progamme in early 80s

My first brush with World Wildlife Fund (as WWF was earlier expanded) was when I was around eight years old. In early 1980s, like much of India, toothpaste variety at my home was restricted to either Colgate or Binaca - now Cibaca (remember Binaca / Cibaca Geet Mala hosted by Ameen Sayani?). WWF-India had then been associated with Binaca, as part of its campaign to save India’s tigers. In 1983-84, I guess, Binaca launched a tiger poster campaign. Each toothpaste pack carried a tear away coupon that one could fill and send to an address in India. In return, we received a beautiful Tiger poster. I did this twice and received posters in both the instances. As a kid I was excited not only about some one in a far way city responding to my letter but also sending me a poster of Tiger – something that I deeply appreciated

WWF’s role in shaping Karnataka’s conservation scene - late 80s to early 90s

In mid/late eighties, the environment movement and spirit of outdoors was catching up with youth in a big way in Karnataka. Though seventies saw the implementation of Wildlife Protection Act and creation of new sanctuaries - many of them in Karnataka, the eighties saw some of Peninsular India’s best rainforests being drowned for ever. This was chiefly for dams in Western Ghats. Forests were also being lost for mining, roads, regularization of encroachments etc. There seemed too much of ‘development’ around, hence an urgency among the youth to group themselves. While some did so to trek in the less explored jungles, wary of them being lost for ever, some wanted to document wildlife. Then there were others who wanted a direction in dealing with the many conservation issues. This gave rise to many organized events being held, at regular intervals, like the annual mid-winter Asian Waterfowl Census and Western Ghats treks. Around the same time, WWF-India launched its Nature Club of India (NCI) movement. The brand name of WWF and their resources in providing much needed education materials like handbooks and field guides gave the much needed direction for budding naturalists in the state. For many of us from small towns like Tumkur, Mysore, Chikmagalur etc, the timing could not have been better. Nature camps were held in rich wildlife habitats like Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. We could share with each other and learn, in an organized way, about wildlife and natural history. Among the nature clubs formed then were Wildlife Aware Nature Club (WANC), Tumkur, Merlin Nature Club, Bengaluru and Mysore Amateur Naturalists (MAN). Together they produced some amazing nature conservationists and field naturalists, who have made an impact not only in India but abroad as well.

Silent heroes of India’s conservation front

Over the years, some conservationists have felt that WWF-India should be doing more for nature conservation in

India. I have been in WWF-India for nearly a month now. I have had a chance to see, first hand, some of its work in the field. I testify that WWF-India is continuing with its outstanding work to conserve India’s wildlife. The many success stories I have come across are a living proof. There is a revolving fund set up for micro-credit for villagers surrounding Pilibhit Territorial as well as Dudhwa Wildlife Divisions. This has helped many to set up and run their own businesses. It has weaned away their direct dependence on forest resources and helped them lead a dignified life. Solar lamps have been installed in some villages affected by tiger attacks around Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. This has successfully kept tigers away from these villages, reducing the man-animal conflict.

WWF’s field guys are amazingly dedicated to the cause. Among them are Mudit Gupta and his team, who have inspiring stories of their work for Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Mudit’s efforts, along with Dudhwa’s young DFO Shri P.P.Singh, to rescue wildlife swept away from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in the 2008’s floods of Sharda and Soheli Rivers, are some thing of legends. Mohanraj in Tamil Nadu is carrying his decades’ old relentless pursuit for the cause of Niligiris’ wildlife with WWF as well. There have been concerted efforts to establish wildlife c

orridors around Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve by Hem Tiwari’s team. Harish Gularia’s team has been overseeing the Terai landscape work that includes WWF’s help to create a new tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit District. Anurag and his team are working in the heart of one of Climate Change’s worst affected areas – the Sunderbans. They refuse to stand idle to the evil effects of this mega-problem and are working hard to mitigate its effects. Apart from this they are working to reduce the human-wildlife conflict in and around Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. I am yet to visit WWF’s work areas in

North East and Central, but having met the field staff from those areas I don’t think the scene there will be any different.

The stories and efforts are endless. My job is to ensure that this face of WWF is seen by its stake holders - from the lay man to the decision makers. The task is challenging, but I am enjoying it.

Check out WWF-India’s work, online, at

http://wwfindia.org. I am working with the team here to give the site a face lift and this should happen before end of June. Keep visiting to find out more.

Peace,

Ameen

The fun in driving to 'Dilli'

It was fun driving all the way to Delhi from Bangalore in my Santro. As a nature love I will say the best part was driving through the length of Madhya Pradesh.

I could see different landscapes ranging from the gentle rolling hills north-west of Nagpur to the dense sal forests around Itarsi and Hoshangabad including the newly created Satpuda (Satpura) Tiger Reserve.

The landscape is different as one moves northwest of Bhopal into the thorn and ridge forests of Narasinghad sanctuary. The drive from Shivpuri to Gwalior is through the very hot and dry forests including those of Madhav National Park. But these huge swathes of dry forests form a spectacular sight. Around Shivpuri the people and traffic are as rough as the landscape is. I could see one guy driving his bike with his countrymade revolver tucked into his belt at his lower back. Being in close proximity to the Chambal valley, this surely must be India's answer to America's 'wild wild west'.

India is truly big and amazing. We all shall make it a much better place before we die. Much of Madhya Pradesh's roads still need to improve, but the varied landscape made up for the beating my car's suspensions and tyres took.

Since this was purely a drive to take my car to Delhi within 4 days, I did not take even one picture (though I was tempted to stop the car at many places). But I surely will drive my car back in a few months from now and will take many Gigabytes of images. Any body willing to join me???

Will keep you informed.

Peace,
Ameen

'Roam nations, read encyclopedias'

Friends,

I moved to Delhi in mid-April to join World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - India, as a Senior Manager - Communications, in their Species division.

I have many of you telling me you are sad, that I am moving away from Bengaluru/ Tumkur and Karnataka. I have to say the following.

This new position will allow me to work on conservation issues through much of India, particularly the wildlife sanctuaries, and among others our tiger, elephant, dolphin and rhino areas. That includes Karnataka too. Also, I will be able to exchange thoughts and learn positive things from people of other states as well.

Also, WANC is working on interesting proposals for wilderness areas in Tumkur district. I will be working with members of the team to carry out some of these tasks. So I will not be far from Tumkur as well : )

I was equally passionate about wildlife before I left for Canada in 2002. Though I was not in the midst of action, here in Karnataka, for much of the next 5 years, my travel and education outside India helped me gain a wealth of knowledge. I have been able to use the same to work with like minded nature lovers like you back home and do my bit to conserve our priceless wildlife.

I am sure this new stint away from Bangalore/ Tumkur will help me gain more knowledge. I want to plough back the same when I return for good, when ever that happens. As a traditional 'Gaade' (proverb) in Kannada language roughly goes, to gain knowledge one must ''Desha suttu, Kosha vodu" (roam nations, read encyclopedias).

I am ever indebted to all my friends from whom I have learnt so much over the decades. It is because of your well wishes and support that I am what ever little I am.

We shall keep in touch.

Best regards,
Ameen