Koyna-Chandoli Tiger Reserve- Starting an NGO.

[Sakobav]

Daniel

Welcome aboard...thats a great gesture do post often I am sure other folks would reach out to you once they proceed on their nascent idea. We would like to hear more about your general recommendations on how India could harness benefits of eco tourism especially involve the locals. Do post your introduction in the welcome section.

Looking forward to your posts

Cheers

[hvj1]

Wow! What a flurry of activity!
Ngrewal,
Thanks mate for the info, please keep in touch your inputs charges me up further to do the things required to get this project going.
Lionheart guru
Where the hell have you been lad? Yes nutty endeavour indeed, but then not many would certify me as fully sane. Count yourself in and please keep in touch.
Dan Free
We welcome all with open arms and heart, if you have anything to contribute as I mentioned before, you are more than welcome and on your own terms. This job on hand is too huge and I can't do this alone, the more the merrier.

Finally, some news on progress made thus far.
I have contacted Mr.Fateh Singhji, former Director Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, in fact the gentleman in question was instrumental in making that reserve successful. An endeavour spanning 34 years. He has now started a NGO named Tiger watch, he his ably assisted by Senior Scientist Mr. Dharmendra Khandal. Both worthies have agreed to help me out and have sent me a draft constitution for the NGO. Mr. Khandal has also sent me some reserach related reports and we are doing our best to get ourselves organised enough to commence work at Koyna.
Regards

[archer]

a little OT

Remembering Jonah's experience, I came across this video on a friend's facebook account.



Posting a youtube link here.

Regards.

Parag

[hvj1]

Thanks Archer
Made my day.
Regards

[ravi.sharma]

Great video, just looking at the bond between the Man and the Beast makes you feel so better.


Ravi.

[angraj]

The video really makes you think.

Angraj

[hvj1]

Well Gentlemen,
Just in case you thought the project has died down, here's the latest developments.I suffered a major setback to my plans for setting up headquarters, the 6.25 acres of land which I had negotiated? The owner reneged on the deal and sold the property to a windmill company. Two months of hard work down the tube, never mind, the flesh is strong and so is the will.

[angraj]

Hi HVJ1,

Please let me know if i can be of any help in locating land in Shahuwadi taluka.

Regards,

Samir

[srswamy]

I believe I have received a few PM's with regards to this topic but too bad.. I can't recieve any! anybody needing to contact me directly can contact me via email at jonahpach(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anyway with regards to my darling clouded leopard, Yes. It's a real pity we are loosing so much of these beauties in the north east due to loss of habitat. In our state itself, in my opinion, It is the Forest and Wildlife Department itself that is responsiible for the loss of habitat. That's another story! Yes, Kiki was adopted at about 3 months when villagers rescued her from a burnt-out forest and took her to the city (Aizawl) to get a few bucks! We raised her hoping that we would be able to free her one day. But alas! To cut a long story short, our meagre (privately financed) Wildlife rescue centre was ill equipped to cater to her demands and although we tried to donate her to our local zoo (hoping for better care) But we did not receive much support. We even contacted Sepahijala Zoo in Tripura where they have an ongoing captive breeding programme but we baulked at the ammount of red tape and file shunting required!

With regards to her vaccination and death due to distemper, I have a very strong suspicion.. I have lost at least 2 alsatian pups and one local terrier which developed symptoms of distemper just a few days of having given the vaccine.

Jonah

@Jonah,

I have sent an email in relation to this topic to your hotmail account. Hope it caught your eyes!

[hvj1]

Hello Ram
Please keep me also in the loop, I am eager to know what caused the different animals death.
BR

[prashantsingh]

That's a lovely video "archer".
Lion's live in prides. The females do most of the hunting while the male basically defends his territory and his harem. At times he helps in the hunting as well.
Raising Big cat's in captivity and re introducing them into the wild is not that easy.
For herbivores it's a different story, but not so for carnivores. Simply because while the herbivore has access to adequate food to survive (grass), the Carnivore has to struggle harder for every meal.
Hunting for a big cat is an art he/she learns from his mother during the early stages of life.
We (as humans) can not replace the mother in teaching these animals how to hunt their natural prey.
The Adamsons of "Born Free" fame raised a lioness and released her in the wild with success (in Africa).
Unlike Africa where you have massive stretches of land devoid of human habitation. India is quite the opposite.

Billy Arjan Singh tried the same with a half bred tigress and a leopard and failed in both cases.
A home bred big cat has no fear of man, and this can lead to it's end.
Just like the leopard which Billy released.
It was killed by the villagers who found him sleeping on a cot inside a hut.

[varkey007]

[quote="hvj1"]Dear Ngrewal and Nagarifle,
Thanks for the support and yes you are right in getting the support of the local population as well as the local rich kids, trying to broaden the horizon by getting the rich kids and other wildlife lovers from Pune & Kolhapur, both almost equidistant from Satara.
Almost every weekend I am spending there in Satara, talking to locals, etc. One thing that is of immense interest to all of you wild life lovers out there is as follows;
1. In Maharashtra, the Forest Dept. is extremely strict and from what I am hearing on the ground is that they are surprisingly very diligent. There is a very strict rule, that you can visit the wildlife area, but you cannot stay the night (to prevent forest fires). Last week, 5 idiots thought they could hoodwink the Dept. decided to stay overnight, now if anyone wishes to do so, they have to crossover into the forest using launches. The launch operators immediately informed the Local Range Officer and a posse of Dept. officials descended on the group and kicked them out of the forest. I was very heartened to hear about this (was in the local papers too).
2. The density of Leopard population is so high, that 5/10 times you drive into the forest trail and you will spot the leopard.
3. Previously, I was told that there is only one tiger left, in this visit, I learnt that in the vicinity of an old fort (Vasota) there are no less than 8-9 tigers. Nevertheless, I will believe them when I see them, and that is easier said than done.
Finally, my group will shortly be investing in a Bolero and I will be investing in a safari camera (bloody expensive), this will take at least one month. Then I plan to go on Night Safari and go shooting leopards ............... (with a camera) . Anybody interested?[/quote

hi
my name is saji varkey , in fact i just went yesterday to chandoli reserve , but was so sad to see the lethargic attitude of the forest dept , no one picks up the phone and no information to get about the place , i do visit tiger reserves often i last visited melgat reserve in june ,and tadoba in may , had some sightings in tadoba .
i am very interested in photographing Indian leopards , but no luck so far , how is chandoli ,please let me know ,
i am big fan of indian wild life

-- Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:50 am --

hi
my name is saji varkey , in fact i just went yesterday to chandoli reserve , but was so sad to see the lethargic attitude of the forest dept , no one picks up the phone and no information to get about the place , i do visit tiger reserves often i last visited melgat reserve in june ,and tadoba in may , had some sightings in tadoba .
i am very interested in photographing Indian leopards , but no luck so far , how is chandoli ,please let me know ,
i am big fan of indian wild life

varkey007

Posts: 1
Age: 41
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:48 pm
Location: india

-- Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:52 am --

i would be very interested in helping in setting up your project in cahandoli , please keep me informed ,
my email address
[email protected]

[varkey007]

hello is there anyone here

[sagar]

Finally, my group will shortly be investing in a Bolero and I will be investing in a safari camera (bloody expensive), this will take at least one month. Then I plan to go on Night Safari and go shooting leopards ............... (with a camera) . Anybody interested?[/quote

With due respect,
I would also like to take part Seriously in this Venture.
Request you to kindly let me know if at all I can contribute in any Manner.
Regards.

[hvj1]

Hi Sagar
This is to inform you that as mentioned earlier on this post, we are planning to buy a camera, which we have done. Its also being put to damn good use, refer to wildlife photography. I must admit, that I am still learning and still far from trudging into the jungle with only camera in tow. Nevertheless, you are most welcome, your contribution will be in the form of enthusiastic participation in our future activities. Right now I pressed for time, doing my land development work, which will keep all such ventures afloat financially. So you see where my priorities are.
BTW, the Bolero will come into the scene in Oct.
Regards