446 students from 12 forest fringed schools learned about nature under Nisarganubhav programme by Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra and BNHS
Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) jointly organized “Nisarganubhav” camps for the schools from forest fringed areas of West Pench.
The camps were conducted at the Surevani Nature Camping Site located at Nagalwadi buffer range. Nisarganubhav” the word itself explains why it was chosen as a name for nature camps: an opportunity for students to experience nature.
A total of 11 one-day camps were organised in which 446 students and 27 teachers belonging to 12 schools participated.
73% students responded that they had never been to Pench before. Even 52% teachers had not visited Pench in past. Each batch was exposed to natural trail, nature game and powerpoint presentation, and forest safari.
During nature trails, students learned about various birds, trees, and animal footprints along a 2 km nature trail. They learned importance of various trees such as Dhawada, Ain, Moha, Tendu, Lokhandi, Palash, and ficus species. They could see termite mounds, Pugmark Impression Pad, various animal tracks and signs. The students were in awe as they observed the tiger’s rack marks on the Arjun tree, wild dogs stalking spotted deer. They took pleasure in the Palash and Silk Cotton tree flowers blooming.
Next to it, they enjoyed snakes and ladder games based on the theme of nature. Through this game, they were told about positive and negative behavioural aspects of mankind towards forest. Third programme comprised of slide presentations on “Beauty of Pench Tiger Reserve’ and ‘Myths about Wildlife in the Villages and my duty’.
Besides, a film Chala Nisargat Bhramantila produced by Shri Sanjay Karkare was shown to the participants. The last program was the jungle safari.
Furthermore, students were told about various duties of field staff, fire lines, protection huts, and wildlife on this safari. At the end of sessions, 98% students responded that forest fulfil their needs and 73% told that forest is really facing problem.
BNHS led by Shri Sanjay Karkare, RFO Shri Pravin Lele, FG Ms. Rasika Dhoke played instrumental role in entire programme. At the end of the programme, 98% took responsibility to save the tiger and 96% said that they will help in stopping the spread of the myth about wildlife.