Indian Update #4, Mission Report - Accomplishments

Here's the report I submitted to Tiger Trust on March 30, upon my departure for Japan. I just can't believe it! As of April 1, Tiger Trust was awarded 70,000$USD Grant money from the US Fish and Wildlife Service for 2 Proposals we submitted!!! We will be able to continue conducting legal trainings from 2011-2013! These will cover the states of Assam and Rajasthan in India.

Mission Report 2010- 2011

Since March 2010, I have been working for Tiger Trust as a consultant to explore and to help out with new and ongoing projects. I supported the completion of the 2009-2011 Final Report for the “Hunting the Hunter Capacity Building Training Program.” This was the first grant awarded to Tiger Trust which supported and continued the legal training that the Trust had been giving for many years.

I helped with development and submission to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of 2 new 2011-2013 proposals of additional training programs in the states of Assam and Rajasthan. (Which were approved on April 1 2011!!!) For these projects alone, I worked over 240 hours for Tiger Trust. I have been networking in the USA and Japan to promote Tiger Trust and pursuing possible partnership opportunities and developing connections with people who may in the future be interested contributing to Tiger Trust. There were over 300 hours of these types of efforts even before arriving in Delhi in 2011.

I arrived on 27 Feb, 2011 in Delhi but started working with Anjana on 1 Mar 2011. I worked with her everyday until March 24, when I completed the Environmental Education & Cultural Exchange Program with the Clemson and Delhi students at Kanha National Park. Nearly 40 participants (19 Clemson Students and 14 Vasant Valley Middle School Students, plus teachers and supporting adults). More on this later. I probably worked over 189 hours while in India.

In Delhi, on 9 March, I made a presentation to prepare the 9th grade students who would be attending the education program in Kanha National Park. Over 90 students participated in the talk, and some of the students expressed an interest after the program.

During the travels to Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks, I was able to develop, lead and support Anjana in leading programs for exchange programs between 50 participants from Clemson University (19 students) and Vasant Valley (14 students) and their teachers. This program took place on 22 & 23 Mar, and a first draft of a Tiger Trust Brochure and other commemorative items were produced and presented to each student, with the hope that there could be some future involvement in the creation of a Tiger mascot at Vasant Valley. This program was successful with a single tiger sighting for all the participants to share, united in awe of the majesty of the wild Tiger.

The Environmental & Cultural Exchange program: The climax of the education program was the tiger sighting were all the participants were able to see the same Wild Tiger & it's kill.

The students saw the tiger laying in the grass, then watched her get into the water to cool off and drink, then run off- chased by angry honeybees! This was re-capped in the evening with my video footage on the big screen.

It was an exciting way to complete the program! Everyone watched "The Truth About Tigers" DVD program and they were captivated by it! http://www.truthabouttigers.org/home

The Clemson students presented Tiger Trust with a donation of $1600USD, to support future programs as well. For many of the Clemson students, this program was one of the highlights of their trip to India.

During my time in Delhi and while traveling to Ranthambhore, Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks, I met with various people to discuss the feasibility of future project ideas for Tiger Trust. I wanted to make sure there were projects lined up in the future, even if the grants do not come through from the US FWS. My projects are yet to be summarized, but many of the ideas are centering on continuing with the present course. The legal trainings for the Forest Department, satisfies a long-term view of Tiger conservation for India. However, Tiger Trust must strengthen it’s public image and build up more core supporters who can diversify it’s activities more. There are lots of opportunities for involvement of volunteers, through programs like the Medical camps, environmental education programs, and improving National Park and local villagers’ relationships. I would like to primarily focus efforts to reduce man-animal through direct conflict resolution & additional compensation programs.

While traveling with the Clemson group, more discussions were made about the details of future plans to conduct a National Tiger Conference hosted by Clemson University in the next year or two. I will assist in planning as a consultant for this effort as well, via internet and phone as well as reaching out to fellow alumni from Clemson for additional support.

Upon my return to Delhi on 28 Mar, I was able to record a nationally televised live interview of Trustee Anjana Gosain where she was discussing the newly released results of the Tiger Census 2011. (Video will be available in Hindi) Hopeful results of an increased population were released, giving us some feeling that perhaps our efforts were being rewarded, however the grim reality is that now, more than ever, more efforts towards man-animal conflict resolution will be needed. There was some arguments about the analysis of the "increase" but overall, the positive outlook is a welcome change of pace from the previous censuses. There is still much that needs to be done, especially in the government's relationship with the local people.

I also reviewed the financial utilization report which will be submitted with the final report to USFWS. There were changes that needed to be made to this report. This Final Report will be sent out by April 15, 2011 via e-submission and hand delivered to Fred Bagley during his visit in April 2011.

I appreciate Tiger Trust for all the work they are doing to help the Wild Tigers of India. I believe that through these efforts, it can serve as a model for other countries and tiger territories. I thank the Trust for its’ support during my stay in India and the networking I was able to accomplish was invaluable during my time here. I will use this experience to expand Tiger Trust in new ways with the faith that our united efforts will bear fruit and bring the Tigers back from the brink of extinction.

Here's some more photos from my journey around the National Parks.

Black stork taking flight at a pond in Kanha National Park.

Guar enjoying the fresh shoots of grass growing in the area after a prescribed fire.

A sapling growing back after a fire, everything seems to be rejuvenated by a fire coming through and clearing off the dead leaves and increasing the light hitting the forest floor.

A Shikra stares back at me as if to say, "Um, you're ruining my hunting cause I can't hear anything! Can you shut your engine off?"

A beautiful bird that was feeding at the lodge in the morning during my walk towards breakfast.