Chat Archives

Chat on "Sharing of Experiences by our wilderness volunteers" dated May 18, 2014 Susan Sharma: Hi Amol Amol Albate: Hi Susan Susan Sharma: Amol, you are a volunteer? Amol Albate: how are you doing? Susan Sharma: Fine, thank you Amol Albate: i m not a volunteer however interested to be Susan Sharma: Good. The Meghat program in Maharashtra is on hold currently. Susan Sharma: WRCS is trying to get it resumed as soon as possible. Amol Albate: OK Susan Sharma: Why do you want to volunteer? Amol Albate: I am from Pune. Exploring wildlife is my passion. Susan Sharma: Have you been a member of IWC for long? Amol Albate: i have participated in Bhimashankar census last year Susan Sharma: Tell us about the experience in Bhimashankar Amol Albate: the experience was good Susan Sharma: How long did you spend in the forest? Amol Albate: though we couldn't sight more wildlife Amol Albate: i learned many things Susan Sharma: Was it a wild mammal census? Amol Albate: like what is waterholes census and how it is organized Amol Albate: yes it was Susan Sharma: You count the natural waterholes and note the locations? I have never been on a mammal census. So tell me Susan Sharma: Welcome anirban ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Thanks Susan Amol Albate: it was a night activity where in all volunteers were given diffrant locations ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Would love to hear more on the volunteering activity Amol Albate: three volunteers on each waterhole with one forest guard ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Amol what drives you to take up this activity? ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Also please share your learnings Amol Albate: l love jungle and wildlife Amol Albate: let it be animals, birds, reptiles ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Great Amol Albate: participating in a census was my dream from long time Amol Albate: i just dont like gypsy rides and photography Amol Albate: though i do photography just to collect moments ant to keep records Susan Sharma: You are a true nature lover, Amol Amol Albate: i like to watch wildlife as close as possible just like one of them Amol Albate: learn abt there behavior and understand them ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: That's great Amol, what did u learn? Amol Albate: i was very nervous after attending bhimashankar census ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Why?! Amol Albate: because we could not saw much wildlife or wildlife activity Amol Albate: we saw only one rabbit and one samber deer Susan Sharma: In how many days? Amol Albate: almost same condition with all waterholes Amol Albate: that was one night activity ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Sorry if u have already answered this before I joined, so u were supposed to count wildlife around the waterhole? Amol Albate: yes Susan Sharma: Did you spend at least a week inside the forest? Amol Albate: that proved urgency of wildlife conservation Susan Sharma: Presence of four people near the waterhole would have kept animals away. ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Susan what is the objective in Melghat volunteering? Amol Albate: i will be glad, if that the resone. Amol Albate: yes susan Amol Albate: please advise about melghat volunteering act. Susan Sharma: the objective is to patrol the forest not census Susan Sharma: Patrolling is done along with forest guards Amol Albate: great Susan Sharma: Two volunteers to one guard ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Is it for anti poaching activities ? Susan Sharma: And the volunteers spend a minimum of one week inside the forest. Amol Albate: OK Susan Sharma: http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com/Ezine/View/Details.aspx?aid=922 Susan Sharma: Jayant Kulkarni of WRCS has done a chat session Susan Sharma: http://indianwildlifeclub.com/chat/chat-archive.aspx?cid=109 Susan Sharma: This session had good participation and was an FAQ of sorts Amol Albate: thank you. Amol Albate: Is there any contact pearson in pune, to get in touch with? Susan Sharma: You can contact Jayant on his emai id or phone Amol Albate: thank you. Susan Sharma: Anirban do you have any volunteer experience to share? ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: No Susan I have never had the opportunity. But I would like to explore the possibility of getting involved in future Susan Sharma: Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (WRCS) 1 A, Shreeyog Society 127/3, Sus Road Pashan Pune-411021 Maharashtra, India Office: +9120- 25871310/ 65222903 Fax: +9120-25871310 email: info@wrcsindia.org Website: www.wrcs.org and www.envirosearch.in Amol Albate: Thank you. Susan Sharma: Sorry that no actual volunteers participated. Susan Sharma: We also have a blog for volunteers Susan Sharma: Some participants have sent in their reports. Susan Sharma: But I thought a free wheeling chat will be interesting. Susan Sharma: Actual volunteers of Melghat , I mean Susan Sharma: http://iwcvolunteers.blogspot.in/ Amol Albate: nice, thank you. Amol Albate: Susan my I ask you a question apart from our discussion topic today? Susan Sharma: Yes of course Amol Albate: Where do you find wildlife after 20 years? specially animals? Amol Albate: will they be limited to national paeks, reserves and Zoos? Amol Albate: i mean parks Amol Albate: or we still can hope them to see in our nearbye jungles, valleys and hills? Susan Sharma: They are already limited to N.Parks Susan Sharma: Hi Vandana Susan Sharma: Vandana had volunteered for Melghat Rao Vandana Parankusam: Hi, Susan. Rao Vandana Parankusam: I wanted to volunteer for Melghat. Rao Vandana Parankusam: But I was informed that ladies are not allowed. Susan Sharma: Why? Rao Vandana Parankusam: At first, we were told that ladies will be allowed if accompanied by a male or a female accomplice - another known volunteer. But the rules were changed. Amol Albate: Hi Vandana Rao Vandana Parankusam: Hi, Amol. Rao Vandana Parankusam: I suppose it was a pilot project and the organizers didn't want to take any risk. Susan Sharma: But you have some volunteering elsewhere? Rao Vandana Parankusam: Yes. I volunteered for the Asian Water Bird Census in Delhi. Rao Vandana Parankusam: It basically covers the Okhla Bird Sanctuary and the banks of Yamuna. Rao Vandana Parankusam: This year was my second year. Amol Albate: great Rao Vandana Parankusam: As for volunteering in Melghat - I was told that I will be informed once ladies are permitted to volunteer. Waiting :) Amol Albate: how was the experience? Rao Vandana Parankusam: I like volunteering. Susan Sharma: Tell us about the experience. Amol wants to know what will happen to urban wildlife after 20 years. I am optimistic amol Rao Vandana Parankusam: I was an amateur bird watcher who knew very less about birds before volunteering. Rao Vandana Parankusam: I too am optimistic. Rao Vandana Parankusam: Internet has made many things change. It is the best medium to make people aware and involved. Amol Albate: ya true Amol Albate: and i think awarness will definitely make difference Rao Vandana Parankusam: I have seen a rise in Bird Watching ever since I joined. Digital cameras, sharing the photographs on social networks, etc. attract people to such hobbies. Susan Sharma: True. ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Generating Awareness is the key Amol Albate: that is true, there is significant rise in bird watching Rao Vandana Parankusam: Organizations like BNHS regularly post events on social networks. Even though I lived in Delhi, when I happened to visit Mumbai, I joined in their activity. It was lovely to see an Atlas Moth from such close quarters there. Rao Vandana Parankusam: Nature trails and adventure treks (including eco-tourism) have also chipped in. ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: BNHS organises such events in Delhi as well Amol Albate: however dont you think the rise is limited to photography? Rao Vandana Parankusam: Yes. In Asola Bhatti. I attend them too. :) Rao Vandana Parankusam: Well, for people like me - photography is the start. Some or the other time you become interested in the subjects you photograph. Amol Albate: you are right there are many organizations, they are trying there best to save our nature ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: I agree Susan Sharma: photography helps you enter the world of the wild Amol Albate: that is one the best things Rao Vandana Parankusam: However, volunteering still needs to be emphasised. I liked to volunteer because it was like learning in exchange of work. ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Helps you observe you subject and learn about their behaviour Susan Sharma: Thank you Amol, Vandana and Anirban it was a good discussion. Rao Vandana Parankusam: Thank you, Mam! Susan Sharma: If there are no more comments, I can close the chat room Amol Albate: thank you susan ANIRBAN ROY CHOWDHURY: Thanks Susan Susan Sharma: Read the unedited transcript as soon as I close

Chat Archive Dragonflies and Damsel Flies - February, 2017 Online Courses on the study of birds - July, 2015 Rewilding degraded Land- practical experiences - June, 2015 Why are vultures important for Swachh Bharat? - May, 2015 Green Living - March, 2015 Restoring degraded lands for wildlife - January, 2015 Insect Tourism - November, 2014 Use of GIS and Remote Sensing for Biodiversity Conservation - October, 2014 Why celebrate wildlife week? - September, 2014 Wildlife Film making - July, 2014 Wildlife Film making - June, 2014 Sharing of Experiences by our wilderness volunteers - May, 2014 Online Environmental Courses - March, 2014 Decreasing tolerance of backyard wildife - February, 2014 Frogs of India - January, 2014 Sustainable Development: The Right Approach - December, 2013 Tiger Cyclowalk- an Interview with Sunil Joshi - December, 2013 Tiger Cyclowalk - Highlands to Ocean - November, 2013 Volunteering at Melghat Tiger Reserve - October, 2013 Role of Citizens in Scientific Research - September, 2013 Ranthambore Adventure - January, 2013 Bats-The Night Warriors - October, 2012 Man vs Tiger-Can Science help? - July, 2012 Human Elephant Conflict - June, 2012 Saving the one horned rhino - May, 2012 "Man-Leopard Conflict - how we can deal with it" - April, 2012 Environment and Wildlife Film making - March, 2012 "Rainforest Wildlife-Unique adaptations" - February, 2012 Conserving wildlife in fragmented landscapes - January, 2012 Urban Biodiversity - September, 2011 Green Hiking in the Himalayas - August, 2011 Role of Zoos in Conservation - July, 2011 Reduce, Recycle and Reuse - June, 2011 Black Necked Cranes - symbol of the rising Green Consciousness - May, 2011 Wildlife Issues in the North -East of India - April, 2011 Trekking in the Himalaya - March, 2011 Conservation of Marine Diversity in India - February, 2011 Plant native trees this monsoon - January, 2011 Human Elephant Conflict - December, 2010 Conservation and Development in Emerging India - November, 2010 "WILL ANIMALS ADAPT TO ANOTHER HABITAT........ - October, 2010 Responsible Tourism- Way forward to conservation? - September, 2010 Vulture Conservation in India - August, 2010 Plant a tree (trees) this monsoon - June, 2010 Role of Urban Birds - April, 2008 "Role of Urban Birds" - April, 2008 GM Foods and Bio-diversity - March, 2008 Taking Responsibility for One's Carbon Emissions - February, 2008 Ecological Security - January, 2008 The Himalayan Musk Deer - November, 2007 Urban Wildlife - October, 2007 Disappearing Tigers: Taking Stock - August, 2007 Garbage littered on our Streets - July, 2007 Bear Conservation nad Protection - June, 2007 Role of Captive Elephants in wildlife conservation - May, 2007 Endangered Animals of Sikkim - April, 2007 Citizen Participation in Environmental Issues - March, 2007 Vulture crisis in India - January, 2007 City Parks and Biodiversity - December, 2006 Why is bird census important? - November, 2006 Shooting Wildlife with a Camera - October, 2006 Rain Harvesting - September, 2006 Environmental Education - July, 2006 Tribal Bill - June, 2006 Trekking in the Himalaya Region - May, 2006 Trekking in the Himalayas - May, 2006 Coastal Wildlife - April, 2006 MARINE BIOLOGY - March, 2006 Atmospheric Brown Cloud - February, 2006 Tiger Census - January, 2006 Tiger Task Force Report - December, 2005 Marine Ecosystems Chat dated 18 November 2005 - November, 2005 Coral Reefs - October, 2005 Global Warming - September, 2005 Tourism and Wildlife - August, 2005 Environment Education - July, 2005 Wild Elephants - May, 2005 Tiger Census - April, 2005 Enforcement of Wildlife Act and the Common Man - January, 2005 Crane Migration - November, 2004 Migratory birds of India - October, 2004 Offences Against Wildlife - September, 2004 Man Animal Conflict - August, 2004 Recent Amendments to the Wildlife Act - July, 2004 Is there a case for keeping large mammals in zoos? - June, 2004 Captive elephant management - May, 2004 Conservation of seaturtles - April, 2004 Asiatic Lion - March, 2004 Plight of lesser animals - February, 2004 Mangroves of India - January, 2004 DEER AND ANTELOPE - November, 2003 PHEASANTS - October, 2003 Amphibians - September, 2003 Chat on Butterflies - Our Natural Gardeners - April, 2003 Chat on Asian Elephant - January, 2003 Chat on Migratory Birds - December, 2002 Chat on Snakes - November, 2002 Chat on Rare Birds - August, 2002 Chat on Environmental Issues - July, 2002