Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra is conducting the first Crocodile and Turtle Habitat Monitoring Survey of Central India using the Citizen Science initiative to study density and habitat use by Crocodiles and Turtles in Riparian zones of PTR. The survey will start on June 2, from the Kolitmara tourism campus and will continue till May 4.
The survey is being done in collaboration with Tinsa Ecological Solutions. It is expected that 30-plus crocodile experts and researchers will participate in the survey. Volunteers having prior experience in herpetology, Crocodile/ Gharial/Turtle Survey can take part in the exercise.
The survey will be conducted in the Pench River, Lower Pench Dam reservoir, and slopes of the Totladoh reservoir. It will enable Management to scan the entire tiger reserve simultaneously. This is a very unique experience of working with Herpetologists, researchers, rescuers, and volunteers on scientific documentation of habitat use by Crocodiles and Turtles in the forest.
The present exercise will enable the tiger reserve to study the abundance and distribution of crocodile and different turtle species in different parts of the Pench River habitat.
Applicants have to fill out a Google application form (https://forms.gle/CgVSVf2YZugyNBZ27) by May 15 by 5 PM. There is no application fee. The selected participants will be informed through mail. Participants will be allotted one of the selected protection huts near the selected survey areas.
On each protection hut, 1 or 2 people led by at least one expert/researcher will stay from June 2 to 4. They will be provided accommodation and food facilities. The survey involves recording data while walking on foot along the bank and boat survey. For any query, one may contact through www.penchtigerreserve.maharashtra.gov.in