JUNGLE BOOK...

April 2011

Forthcoming Activities/Events

 Film shows at Coral Cottage:

Nature Club Surat will be organizing Film Shows and will be conducted by Viral Prajapati as under:

Schedule

 Venue of Program:

Coral cottage, Mahalakshmi Party Plot, Behind Iscon Mall, Dumas Road, Piplod, Surat-395007

 Art and Craft Workshop Camp- Saputara 2011.

Spend your summer on the top of the hill of Saputara by adding creativity in your holidays with Nature Club  Surat’s “Art and Craft Workshop Camp- Saputara 2011”.

Schedule:

Himalayan Experience- Manali 2011.

Mountains are calling you to trek, to wonder in the woods and bathe in the chilled waters of Beas. Feel the Nature from the heights of the Himalayas. Be ready for the Adventure.

Batch: 10^th May -21^nd May, 2011.

One Day Camp- Eco Farm Vesu.

This summer, make your holidays the most memorable ones. Get away from exams, schools and yet learn something more. The nature Education camp, set within the orchards of farm provides children with opportunity to learn something about nature's creation.

Camp Date: All Weekends of April-May-June

Fees: Rs. 300/-   Age Limit: 4 to 8 year

For registration please contact 99797 30036, 98250-57678(10:00am – 07:00pm)

Article 

My Experience of Para-gliding:

Srushti Patel

Std 7^th

I had gone to Himachal Pradesh with my family in December. It was a beautiful place in the foot hills of Himalaya, surrounded by tea gardens and there were a couple of beautiful monasteries nearby.

It was pretty cold there, the temperature went up to 5 degree Celsius in the evening, and so, we stayed close to the fire and warmed up ourselves. We went to sleep very early, nearly at 8:30 and covered our self with thick and warm blankets.

Next morning I and my little sister were not at all ready to set our foot on the floor due to the bitter cold, but all of a sudden we realized that we had to go for Para-gliding today to Billing which is one of the three best places for Para-gliding in the world and we both were on our feet and started getting ready as fast as we could our mom was stunned and kept starring at us, as soon as we were ready she asked us what on earth are you two up to?

We both screamed together “Mom we’re going for Para-gliding today” and that very moment dad entered the room and asked us whether we were ready?

As soon as we finished the breakfast, we hurried to the car and got settled in it. We were quite excited and also a bit nervous and I had no idea how Para-gliding feels like. It took us half an hour to reach to the top of the mountain, very strong wind blew over here and it was bitterly cold, we were enjoying the scenery and that very moment a guide came by and told us that we must wait for a while so that the land heats up and we can get good thermals during the glide.

My dad started taking a video of the beautiful view of the foot hills of Himalayas and my mom covered me and my sister fully with the scarf, woolen cap, wind cheater, hand gloves and finally the helmet! My sister looked exactly like an astronaut as she had got white helmet, white gloves and white wind cheater too!!!

After a while we went at the take off spot and fortunately I was the first one to take off. So they tied a harness around me, there was a seat like thing behind me and then they opened the Para-glider, it was about 20-25 feet long with many strings running down through the glider and fixed on my and the guide’s harness. As soon as everything was set, my heart was beating at its maximum rate and then I took a deep breath and then we ran 2 to 3 steps and off the cliff above 3500 feet in the air, I felt like a soaring eagle in the open sky and we soared for 30 minutes. 3500 feet below was the thick pine forest densely green, the mountains, river and the small village below formed a beautiful view and felt like in heavens.

But in no time we had to land, the landing spot was a 10 meters wide circle and we had to land in centre of that circle. My guide told me to keep my legs straight and hold tight and the rest will be done by him.

There, we made a perfect landing. After me was my sister, followed by my mom and then the last one was my dad.

It was a wonderful trip and we had a thrilling experience!!!

White Colour Flowers

-Darshan Jardosh

As this is the season of flowering, we definitely find them in various colours including white. Yes, I found the flowers of Coral Tree (Erythina indica) white in colour at the garden of Sarjan Society, usually found as crimson red.  A tree besides this tree had red flowers, so the contrast was beautiful. I observed more than 80 Pastors had gathered, were plucking the flowers and making their noise (they might be enjoying), on the white flowering tree though the next tree of the same species had bloomed in red.

Enjoy the Nature and keep observing.

Activity Report: March, 2011.

On 1^st March, 2011, a Snake Awareness Program was conducted for tiny tots of Future Kids School at Adajan. Very basic information of snake was given to them and they enjoyed a lot the Program.

On 2^nd March, 2011, A small party was arranged in Eco friendly way at Eco farm. Rock climbing, river crossing, snake awareness Program and nature trail were conducted for them.

On 6^th March, 2011, One Day Camp was organized at Mahal, Dang for 61 participants of Balaji Tuition. Valley Crossing and rappelling were the chief activities for them. They enjoyed a lot these activities, were also played Nature Conservation games and talk on Act Now was conducted.

On 5^th March, 2011, Nature Club Surat has organized Star Gazing Program. Mr. Akshay Joshi has conducted the whole Program. He has explained about the basics of the Star gazing, shown some Zodiac Signs. It was really very interesting Program.

On 8^th March, 2011, a Program of a movie and two Nature Conservation games was conducted by Nature Club Surat for the 3^rd and 4^th standard students of T. & T.V. School as a part of Environment Education in Sarvajanik Education Society’s school.

From 7^th March to 12^th March, 2011, two volunteers of Nature Club Surat accompanied Fountainhead School on a trip to Gir Forest for 55 students of 2^nd Std, in two groups, as subject experts.

Our volunteers explained the students, the issues of “Human and animal relationship”, “Influence of humans on animals” and “Endangered species”. The students saw lions, chitals, sambar, wild boar, etc in Gir forest and Develia Safari and spent sometime in Gir Interpretation Center, learning about Gir Forest. They also saw wild animals in Junagadh Zoo. They also interacted with a local NGO and a forest officer to discuss and learn about Gir Forest and its importance.  

On 22^nd March, 2011, Nature Club Surat has celebrated World Water Day, World House Sparrow Day and World Forestry Day with Shell Hazira LNG Port Ltd and Kantha Vistar Satatyapurna Vikas Samiti at Navjagruti School, Hazira.

Mr. Viral Prajapati has delivered his speech on World House Sparrow Day as this day is celebrated on 20 March every year in the world since 2 years. He explained, how very common bird – House Sparrow is vanishing from our surroundings, as this bird is loosing its habitat, unnecessary use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides in our gardens as well as in farms affects on its food,  impact of pollution on its health and thus it is fighting for survival. He also gave tips- provide them nest box for nesting, bird feeder to feed them, use organic fertilizer and pesticides, plant such trees which attract birds (for food and shelter). 57 nest boxes were distributed among the school students which were made by discarded plastic box. The boxes were designed in such a way that predator bird like crow and other birds cannot damage its eggs and its babies, said Sandeep Javre, volunteer of our club. The principal of the school has also encouraged the students a project to make such nest box from the waste material found.

World Water Day is celebrated by Nature Club Surat with Cairn Energy India PTY Ltd at Suvali Prathmik Shala, Suvali Gam. The primary children were educated on judicious use of water and also informed about need to repair a dripping tap, use bucket to wash your vehicles, turn off your tap while shaving and brushing, the water crisis and its importance by Puppet Show. A drawing competition was also held on Water Conservation theme and prizes were given to winners by Installation Manager of Cairn Energy India PTY Ltd and the Sarpanch of Suvali Gam. The pledge was taken by students not to waste water and conserve it.

26^th – 30^th March, 2011, Art and Craft Workshop Camp- Saputara 2011 was organized by Nature Club Surat. 38 participants took part in this camp and enjoyed the creative activities and adventure. 

Animal Welfare Activity:

Nature club Surat rescued Common Palm Civet Cat from Relief Medical, Chauta Bazar at 12:30 pm. In gujarati, it is called Vaniar or Taad Biladi. It eats rats, small birds, fruits and juice of tadi and lives in human habitations and also in dense forest. In Surat, this species is found mostly in old uninhabited houses of walled city areas of the Surat.

Nature Club Surat rescued Beaked Worm Snake. The snout of this snake is like beak and so the name derived. This is the longest snake in worm snakes, 20inches. It leaves in mud, burrows in soils eats eggs and earth worms and insects. It was rescued from Umra gam at 8:00pm.

Nature Club Surat rescued Indian Smooth Snake at 8:30am from Vesu. It is rare snake endemic to India and found on borders of Maharashtra. Earlier we have rescued this snake in 2006 March. It was 18 inches long while the snake rescued on 24th march 2011 is 17 inches long. The snake eats geckos, garden lizards for food.

If you find injured birds or reptiles, then call NCS's Rescue No: 98254-80908.

Spread Your Green Hands:

-          Viral Prajapati

Deer Breeding Project: The aim of the project is to reintroduce ungulates in the Dang and Vansada National Park. Nature Club Surat jointly with Majaraja of Vansada and Forest Department has started this project. On 20^th November, 2010, two pairs of Spotted Deer were handed over to us by Sarthana Zoo. The deer were shifted to Vansada at our deer breeding site. On 9^th December 2010, a deer baby was delivered by one of the females. The deer are regularly examined by Veterinary doctors as per requirements.

Vulture Conservation Project: On 24^th February, 2011, we got call from Mr. Chandrakantbhai from Vaasava Gam around 21:30 for White rumped Vulture. It was not in good condition and as per him the vulture was in his orchard (vaadi) from last 2 days.  We found 2 vultures (1 adult and 1 baby) in the nest. We rescued it and treated it and it has started feeding on its own and on 23^rd February, 2011. We successfully released it at the same place, where it was found.

As we knew that Vulture Feeding Site is running by Nature Club Surat in Hajira area. We have located the roosting and nesting site of the vulture in 13 kilometer from Hajira to Vasva and recorded 83 vultures in this area. But, from the second week of the February month, we regularly noticed only 30 vultures in the same area. We inquired about the rest and also asked locals that whether they found any dead vulture but we haven’t found any information from them. (In Rajula, 28 vultures have surprisingly disappeared, said Ruchi Dave from Mahuva, Bhavnagar). Vultures are known to have local migrations, but the sudden disappearance of the vultures is a mystery.

Wetland Conservation Project: The club has adopted the Gavier Lake for our Wetland Conservation Project, over the past several years.  We have planted several indigenous tree species, such as Banyan tree, Peepal, Umaro etc. as they attract birds, insects and the other creatures. These have now grown more than 15 fifteen feet tall. We are now removing the non-native Gando Baval (Prosopis julifera) gradually as the indigenous trees are flourishing. We have constructed a Wetland Interpretation Centre. Many school students visit the centre as well as the lake. They are taught about the wetland, its ecosystem, its importance and how the wetland provides healthy biodiversity.

Request for Donations

The club is in need of funds to provide veterinary facilities and transportation to the Deer Breeding site.

Our club also requires funds for providing food to vultures as well as maintenance of the feeding site

We also need funds to develop our Wetland Interpretation Centre and salaries of the care takers at all our conservation sites.

So, kindly please donate generously to support these activities.

We also need a bike for Animal Rescue activities. If you are no longer using your bike and can donate it for SPCA activities, it will help us reach more places

Welcome:

Nature Club Surat welcomes its new members, who joined the club in February and March, 2011.

Save paper:

If you want only a soft copy of Jungle Book, then send us a request SMS titled  Save Paper along with your email id on 98250 57678 or email at natureclubsurat81@gmail.com. Let’s reduce the use of paper and save trees.       

Nature Club Surat is on facebook: 

Please join Nature Club Surat group on facebook and stay updated with the club activities and interact with other club members.

All the Life Members and Patron Members are requested to send their Birth date and email addresses to: natureclubsurat81@gmail.com

Opportunities @ Nature Club Surat

As a growing Nature education and conservation society, we have an opening for an Educational officer. 

Responsibilities

1. To coordinate and conduct Nature education activities of the club

2. To initiate and further programs/projects of Nature conservation.

3. To disseminate information among local and corporate institutions

4. To provide information on club activities, prepare literature and project documentation

Qualifications

1. Master's Degree or higher in Science, with Zoology as specialization

2. Fluency in English and Gujarati.

3. Considerable understanding of environmental issues and sound understanding of local ecology.

4. Basic knowledge of computer and internet

5. Outgoing personality, ability to work with other people

So, if you would like to join an organization which provides you a professional opening with an opportunity to serve society and environment, rush your resumes to: secretary@natureclubsurat.org