Tell me what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear these words
Wild animals
Conservation
Protection Program
These words usually make us think of some famous conservationist and/or about government funding.
I mean how can you and me think of conserving the wild life?
Apart from writing about it and holding marches of course!
But what if I tell you that there are many such unsung communities in India that are working collectively to conserve the wild?
Many of these people are uneducated, most of them are poor…
That does not stop them from doing what they are doing and this is what makes them special!
Today, I am bringing three such community efforts across India that are helping conserve and record animal movement and habitat. It also helps keep poachers at bay and boost the breeding efforts.
Godawan (GIB) Community Conservation project
This is a project working towards the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in the Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This project was initiated by the biologist couple Sumit Dookia and Mamta Rawat, who along with the forest department came up with a plan to involve the villages that live the closest to the Desert National Park.
Wild life conservation can only be effective when the communities along the animal habitat are actively participating in it. Keeping this thought in mind and ensuring that the villagers do not feel threatened by the conservation efforts, 25 young men were identified from the villages for Godawan Community Conservation Project in 2015. These young men were trained and certified by forest department as nature guides.
The people living along the habitat work as grazers, animal herders or have small businesses. Such a certification meant additional income during the tourist season. When inquiries started coming in for certified guides the confidence of these youth grew and they started talking about their work with pride.
The Great Indian Bustard which was a common bird about a century ago, has a population of just 150 today. Of these 122 are found in Rajasthan.
The efforts of the Godawan community has helped map GIB landscape, document spotting and also identify other endangered animals found in the region. They are producing a wealth of real time data that would otherwise not have been possible. How can you help? Be a volunteer or donate
Manoj Gogoi’s NRSB Volunteering Group
Manoj Gogoi is from Assam who grew up in Kaziranga. He has completed his 10th standard but he did not study after that. However that did not stop Manoj from charting a new way of life and helping his community along the way. While most youth prefer to go to bigger cities for work, he decided to stay back and rescue his feathered friends and reptiles. He completed a course from Bombay Natural History Society in Mumbai and then came back to Assam to set up his volunteering team – NRSB
Gogoi pursued his call of rescuing and rehabilitating birds, reptiles and mammals alone for a long time, but his education at Mumbai helped him gain confidence of establishing a volunteering group. NRSB (the Naturalists for Rehabilitation of Snakes and Birds) started with just 15 people and is today a 100+ member team.
Manoj and his team of volunteers rescue and rehabilitate animals while educating the locals about the basic Do’s and Don’t’s when handling a wild animal or bird. This has helped generate general awareness among locals and today instead of killing a wild animal that enters the village, the villagers call this volunteering group for help and support. NRBS has also managed to raise the curiosity and interest in youth about animal conservation. Manoj alone has recused more than 5000 animals already.
His effort has been recognized far and wide and a lot of awards and accolades have come his way.
Bhigwan Migratory Birds Community conservation
We visited Bhigwan during the winter seasons to see the migratory birds that flock to Ujani dam backwaters. This is where we met Sandip Nagare, a soft-spoken local lad with a masters degree and a penchant for bird-watching and photography.
With the backwaters of Bigwan being his backyard, Sandip developed an interest in bird-watching and ornithology. Not having a formal education did not stop Sandip from working towards conservation and protection of the migratory birds.
Sandip started a nature conservation group called AgniPankh with 30 people from his village. He trained these youngsters to be guides for tourists. This has ensured that the community living near the Ujani dam earns an additional income from tourists. It has motivated the villages to protect the natural habitat of the birds and share data with ornithologist.
When we went there, we were taken on a boat ride with clear instructions about the do’s and don’t during the trip. It was heartening to see that the guides were knowledgeable and cared for the birds. They ensured that not many boats went out at one time to ensure that the birds are not hassled by the human activities. You can read more about my experience at Bhigwan- A bird lover’s paradise near Pune.
These are some communities that are working with the government and guiding the world on ways of reducing the human-wild conflict. If we as a community come together to create processes to ensure that the wild does not feel threatened, we still might be able to protect the rich bio-diversity of our country. When we conserve the habitats, we help in fighting climate change.
In today’s times when all we read about is humans encroaching the wild habitat, such communities are building bridges. Have you heard about communities that are working towards protecting the wild?
We have all misued and abused the world so much that everything around us needs to be protected. Wildlife is what is given the least amount of thought too, and most of us don’t even know that there are species that are now endangered. Thanks for raising awareness through your posts.
I am so happy to read this post, Neha. We all talk about saving the planet, our environment, and also the wildlife but not many take that effort to go out and actually do something to make it happen. We should be grateful to such communities who are relentlessly working towards protecting wildlife.
Such a vital topic Neha and I am so glad you are spreading the awareness. It is so good to know about these institutions which are doing a phenomenal job.
It is so nice to read of the work done by these wonderful organisations to protect our natural heritage, our wildlife. And it is really commendable that you are covering them.
They’re doing a wonderful job and greag that you’ve introduced us to them. A friend of mjne went to Rajasthan and was sad how the GIB is reduced to just a few hundreds now. We must preserve other species too.
It’s a great pleasure to read about the persons who are serving and giving their services to protect the wild rare animals.Salute to these communities who are working hard to save the nature.
I am so happy that you are sharing such wonderful cause and initiatives and their projects. They are so inspiring and doing a great job!! Thanks for sharing
It’s very motivating that there are many projects on wildlife conservation is running in our country. Indeed it’s good cause to save and create awareness about wildlife
This is a true example of jaha chaah waha raah. As you mentioned, despite of being less educated or uneducated or having financial crisis these people never stopped to think and take actions towards what they wanted to do. Their efforts and initiative is truly commendable.
Thank YOU for such a lovely, insightful, and well-researched piece. I have LOVED zoology. So happy to know that there are like-minded people out there who worry about flora and fauna as much as for humans! Three cheers.
Wonderful post. It’s strange how people fondly visit national parks to watch wildlife but rarely anyone thinks about them conserving them. Good to know about these communities thay are doing a great job.
This is such a nobel thing being done by so many people. We indeed need to protect the wildlife and learn to co exist happily.
I find it to be so reassuring when I read of these groups that are doing good – its a promise in the goodness of humanity.
In the last few weeks, the news has been full of the atrocities committed and it was horrible to read!
We need more people involved, more awareness, and more involvement.
This is such a nice initiative as it is really important now to protect the wild animals and save them from becoming extinct
It is so overwhelming to see how these great people have dedicated their life for better causes saving the wildlife is as important as saving our immediate ecosystem thank you for sharing about them with us Neha
Now this is something very nice and communities should work on this on a greater level. I am glad that there are communities that are working towards this
I honestly didn’t know that there’ so much voluntary community work going on to protect our wildlife. Thanks for this article. I learnt something new about wildlife conservation.