3,500 join Satpuda Foundation's wildlife week celebration in 5 tiger reserves

NAGPUR: Satpuda Foundation celebrated wildlife week (October 1-7) in more than 50 villages across the Satpuda landscape in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with a series of programmes aimed at promoting wildlife awareness and conservation.
The Foundation organised rallies, drawing and face-painting contests, film shows, nature games and nature trails, plantation programmes to promote conservation in villages near Kanha, Navegaon-Nagzira, Pench, Satpuda, and Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserves.
"Around 3,500 people attended various programmes, including local students, villagers, gram panchayats members, forest departments staff and officials," said Satpuda Foundation president Kishor Rithe.
In Kanha, an anti-plastic drive was launched at Mocha. Mocha sarpanch Ramprasad Uikey, village eco-development committee president BS Parmar, villagers, youths and school children participated.
Shopkeepers and residents were told to keep dustbins for dumping litter. Uikey said Rs 500 will be imposed as penalty for littering public place. Around 100 women, members of women’s SHGs from Kutwahi, Manegaon, Bhagpur and Patpara also participated in various events including rallies and drawing contests.
Around 1,000 people participated in Kanha in 10 villages during the week. At Tadoba, a number of events was organised including conservation rallies, plantations contest and meetings at Dewada and Kondegaon in which villagers promised to promote conservation. Film shows on conservation and nature trails were also held.
Around 750 people participated in 12 villages at Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, the notable activity was series of wildlife safaris for children of village schools adjoining the reserve. Resource person Mukund Dhurve taught children techniques of bird spotting, identifying animals and plants. Other programmes included rallies, essay and drawing competitions in schools and anti-plastic programmes.
In Pench (Madhya Pradesh), around 15 children from Jamuntola visited nature interpretation centre near Turia. The children saw various exhibits depicting life of tigers as well as various birds and other wildlife species.
Satpuda Foundation also organised a number of events including nature trails and games for children. More than 260 students, around 10 teachers and 25 villagers participated in the various programmes in 8 villages during the week.
In Pench (Maharashtra) a cattle vaccination drive was organized at Wagholi. More than 90 cattle were administered vaccines to boost their immunity against common diseases. At Satpura in Hoshangabad, it organised drawing contests, anti-plastic programme and conservation rallies.3,500 join Satpuda Foundation's wildlife week celebration in 5 tiger reserves