NATURE CLUB SURAT
Environment Education & Research centre
|
Environment Education & Research centre
|
|
Bird Watching Trip Nalsarovar, Velavadar & Lothal 2010 Himalayan Experience camp Manali 2010 Nature Art & Craft Workshop, Saputara 2010 Opportunities @ Nature Club Surat Call of Indian Birds Vol-1,2,3 & 4 Video Guide to Birds of India Vol- 1 & 2 |
Jungle Book is a Bimonthly newsletter of Nature Club Surat
JUNGLE BOOK... August - 2008 Forthcoming programsWild Venture Camp - Dandeli, KarnatakaNature Education Camp – Dangs 2008Wild Venture Camp, Dandeli, KarnatakaOne Day Camp for kids Eco Farm, VesuFrom the Secretary’s deskNews Snehal Patel, our President has been appointed as Wildlife Warden for Surat district. Many, many congratulations to him. Our club members wish him the best for the conservation efforts! Snehal Patel, representing Nature Club Surat, is also on the Gujarat State committee for Vulture conservation. Nature Club Surat is among the two NGOs in the state on this committee. ActivitiesSnake Awareness Programs During the months of June and July around 25 snake shows were organized in different schools and areas of Surat district. Through these shows we try to give them information on venomous and non-venomous snakes, some blind beliefs attached with snakes, first aid, how to identify venomous and non-venomous snakes etc. Tree Plantation at Gavier Lake In the month of July we had planted more than 100 trees at our protected Gavier Lake. On 5th of July students from SNDT College planted trees under the leadership of Prof. Purnimaben Pancholi. Talk on ‘I, U and Nature Club Surat’ A talk was conducted by Mr. Nilesh Rawal, one of the active volunteer of our club in past (presently based at Muscat). The topic was ‘I, You and Nature Club Surat’. It was conducted on 13th July 2008 at ‘Vulture House’ Mahalaxmi Party Plot, Piplod, Surat. During his talk he shared many of his experiences with nature and Nature Club Surat. Tribal Culture and Bio-diversity Camp – SaputaraDuring 03rd April to 6th April a bio-diversity camp was organized in Saputara and around 40 participants attended this camp from Ahmedabad. Various activities were done during this camp which include Tribal Museum visit, village visit, Varli painting, Sunset painting, bio-diversity sessions and Dangi tribal dance show Nature Art and Craft Camp – SaputaraDuring the months of April and May, three Nature Art and Craft camps were organized and a total of 136 students participated. This camp was very successful and during this camp various activities were been done which includes - Collage work, Varli painting. Slide shows on different topics, marbling, paper mess work, film shows, rappelling, river crossing, trekking, a small skit on use of plastic, trek to Sun rise and Sun set points and camp fun. Himalayan Experience Camp - ManaliBetween 9th May and 21st May 2008 a total of 45 participants participated in the Himalayan Experience Camp at Manali, as a part of Back to Nature Movement initiated by Mr. Lavkumar Khacher. This camp provides unique experience of living close to nature in the Himalayas. Various activities were conducted during this camp. The participants had a good learning experience as well as fun. The activities included trek to various places like – Hadimba Temple, Panduropa, Jogini falls, Eagle’s peak etc…over and above a very excited and thrilling trek to the frozen Bhrigu Lake which is at 14,000 feet. Besides they also did rock climbing, rappelling and river crossing. On the last day around 25 to 30 students went to Kulu and did white water rafting in the river Beas. Wild Venture Camp – DandeliBetween May 22nd and 28th May 2008, a group of 23 members went to Wild Venture camp at Dandeli in Karnataka. All the participants enjoyed the camp and participated in various activities like visit to the sun set point, back waters, fishing, rock climbing, bird watching, night safari, day safari, and visit to Kavala caves and last but not the least visit to Syntheri rocks. Apart from this they also did River rafting. SPCA ReportThis is our regular activity and throughout the year volunteers of our club rescue many injured birds, animals and mammals. Later, they are released in their natural habitat after giving proper treatment. The table here highlights the rescue efforts during the month of April, May, June and July.
Vulture Conservation Project: As you are aware, that Vultures are vanishing rapidly from the wild from entire South Asia. Our Club has taken up a project to save the vultures in the wild and for this the volunteers are doing their best for saving them. Our Club has started a feeding site for them, where Diclofenac-free carcasses are provided. In the past three months around 30-60 vultures have been sighted on this feeding site. This is a healthy number. Apart from this we have also distributed Meloxicam at subsidized rates to all the Veterinary doctors who ask for them. This includes distribution not only in the Surat district but also in Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad districts. On 20-04-08 an injured Vulture had been rescued from Hazira area. It was found in a highly dehydrated state. After rescuing the vulture it was taken to Nandini Hospital for treatment and later on kept under the supervision of our club volunteers at the Eco-farm. After two weeks later the vulture was taken to be released in the wild. The activity was performed under the supervision of the Forester of Hazira area. But unfortunately the bird could fly anymore. So it was brought back at the Eco-farm. We are waiting for the vulture to be shifted to the breeding centre which is located at Sakkarbaugh Zoo, Junagadh. Report: Vulture Conservation ProjectBCSG Surat chapter and Nature Club Surat have jointly taken up a project of Vulture Conservation in Gujarat. Numerous activities have been conducted for this project and the response to this project has been overwhelming. People from the villages or school children inform us about the dead vulture or a sick vulture which has fallen down the tree from its nest or roosting sites. Up till now the villagers were unaware of the importance of Vultures in the ecosystem. Due to various awareness programs conducted in the villages nearby the Hazira Coastal area people and students have come forward and lent a helping hand.
Vultures are facing a serious problem of food. The food sometimes they feed on has Diclofenac. As members are aware, Diclofenac has been identified as primary reason for alarming decline in vulture population. So to provide Vultures with a Diclofenac free food we have started a ‘Vulture Feeding Site’ in the nearby area of Hazira where Vultures can easily get food. We have arranged meetings with almost all the cowherds staying nearby in this area and explained them the current situation of the Vultures and the problems they are facing for getting food. We have informed them about the after effects of the situation as to how the environment would turn out to be if the dead cattle and rotten Caracas are not disposed off properly which can end up spreading various diseases also. And so they have agreed to give their dead cattle as and when they have for Vulture feeding. They inform us about the death and we collect it from there as early as possible and dump them at the feeding site. Another important thing which remains to be mentioned here is that we have received good support from the village people dead cattle he rushes to the place and takes it to the feeding site and after skinning it, leaves it for the Vultures. At regular intervals, a Vulture census is conducted at various places of Hazira and Dangs in South Gujarat. Apart from this, volunteers also keep track of vultures in Mahuva, Rajula and Kodinar. The Vulture population in Surat is currently steady due to the efforts and care taken for their food. If any sick or injured Vulture is rescued it is taken good care of and then released back to their nesting/roosting sites. If it is a serious case and cannot be attended here, it is transferred to Junagadh, with the assistance and permission of Forest Department.
We have also arranged meetings with many veterinary doctors of Surat district
and informed them about the side effects
Rajula and Kodinar. This medicine
has proved to be fatal to Vultures as they feed on the dead cattle which may
have been treated by this medicine. On the other hand we supply them with
‘Meloxicam’ a substitute medicine. This medicine is expensive than the former
one but we supply at subsidized rates to the Veterinary doctors. The supply is
provided to them as bottles
of Meloxicam have been distributed. Apart from this many of the Panjarapoles of Gujarat have also been contacted and informed about the deadly medicine and requested not to use it for the sick cattle but use Meloxicam instead. This project has been successful, due to the efforts put by Nature Club Surat members. This is evident from the steady population of vultures at the sites covered. We are hopeful, that with our efforts, we may be able to maintain and restore the wild population of vultures. We had projected a film “Vanishing Vultures” along with a talk on vultures at ‘Gram Vikas Ane Paryavaran Samiti’ of Rajgari and Vasava village in collaboration with Hazira LNG Pvt. Ltd. and Kantha Vistar Satatyapurna Vikas Samiti. The protection of vultures and their habitat would not have been possible without generous donations received in the past, from our esteemed members and donors. In order to continue this activity further, we require immediate funds. All members are requested to contribute generously to protect the last remaining populations of vultures in India.
|
|
Send mail to
info@natureclubsurat.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
