Events
Volunteers participate in a Tourist Sensitization Program at Periyar Tiger reserve, Kerala
The Aircel ‘Save Our Tigers’ campaign launched in partnership with WWF-India has inspired many ordinary citizens to rise from their stupor and accept the ground reality of the situation of our wild tigers. The message that the tigers future is in our hands has encouraged many individuals to step up and support the cause of tiger conservation.
WWF-India took this opportunity to engage with nature lovers and give them an opportunity to contribute towards tiger conservation. The first in the series of events planned for volunteers was a Tourist Sensitisation Program at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala on 15th-16th May 2010. The zeal of the volunteers was such, that some travelled from Andhra Pradesh to participate in the event. The activities conducted were an exciting mix of signature campaigns, interaction with tourists coming to the Periyar Tiger Reserve, trek into the forests, and a clean up drive of some areas within Periyar.
The first day of the program began by organizing a signature campaign in the boat landing area of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. A plain white banner was laid out and volunteers encouraged tourists to pledge their support for tiger conservation and join the campaign by signing the cloth. To attract tourists and actively engage them, the volunteers distributed car stickers, posters and brochures with information on tigers. They interacted with children, youngsters, and senior citizens, and collected more than 5000 signatures in the two day program!
To engage with the general public in the surrounding area of Kumily, the volunteers screened a documentary titled ‘India – Kingdom of the Tiger’ at the public venue in the Panchayat bus stand. With the sound effects and graphics, it attracted a huge crowd.
To reward the volunteers for their hard work, WWF Kerala State Office organized a short trek into the forest on the evening of the first day. They were accompanied by the Eco Development Committee Members as guides. It was a first of its kind experience for many volunteers.
The second day of the program began at 7 AM where the group took the first boat trip aboard the ‘Vana Jyotsana’ and spotted wild boars and gaurs in the forest. As part of the program, a panel on ‘Do’s and Don’t’s during boating’ was prepared by the WWF-Kerala State Office and the volunteers put up these panels in almost all the boats operated there by the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department and the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. The panels were well received by the authorities.
After finishing the signature campaign on the second day, a cleanup campaign was carried out from the boat landing to the check post inside Periyar, almost a distance of 4km. The team collected about 10 bags of litter, mainly containing mineral water bottles, cigarette and pan covers, snacks covers, liquor bottles etc. More than a cleanup drive, it also acted as a tourist sensitization event to make them aware about the dangers of littering, careless waste and plastic disposal. This waste was passed onto the Forest Department and the Municipal Corporation, who follow a waste management system to dispose non-biodegradable waste after removing recyclable material.
The event concluded on Sunday, 16 May with a small get together and Mr. Renjan Matthew, State Director, WWF-Kerala office proposed the formal vote of thanks to the volunteers. It was one of the biggest in terms of volunteer numbers and most successful in terms of tourists response campaign organized in the recent past.
WWF-India took this opportunity to engage with nature lovers and give them an opportunity to contribute towards tiger conservation. The first in the series of events planned for volunteers was a Tourist Sensitisation Program at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala on 15th-16th May 2010. The zeal of the volunteers was such, that some travelled from Andhra Pradesh to participate in the event. The activities conducted were an exciting mix of signature campaigns, interaction with tourists coming to the Periyar Tiger Reserve, trek into the forests, and a clean up drive of some areas within Periyar.
The first day of the program began by organizing a signature campaign in the boat landing area of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. A plain white banner was laid out and volunteers encouraged tourists to pledge their support for tiger conservation and join the campaign by signing the cloth. To attract tourists and actively engage them, the volunteers distributed car stickers, posters and brochures with information on tigers. They interacted with children, youngsters, and senior citizens, and collected more than 5000 signatures in the two day program!
To engage with the general public in the surrounding area of Kumily, the volunteers screened a documentary titled ‘India – Kingdom of the Tiger’ at the public venue in the Panchayat bus stand. With the sound effects and graphics, it attracted a huge crowd.
To reward the volunteers for their hard work, WWF Kerala State Office organized a short trek into the forest on the evening of the first day. They were accompanied by the Eco Development Committee Members as guides. It was a first of its kind experience for many volunteers.
The second day of the program began at 7 AM where the group took the first boat trip aboard the ‘Vana Jyotsana’ and spotted wild boars and gaurs in the forest. As part of the program, a panel on ‘Do’s and Don’t’s during boating’ was prepared by the WWF-Kerala State Office and the volunteers put up these panels in almost all the boats operated there by the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department and the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. The panels were well received by the authorities.
After finishing the signature campaign on the second day, a cleanup campaign was carried out from the boat landing to the check post inside Periyar, almost a distance of 4km. The team collected about 10 bags of litter, mainly containing mineral water bottles, cigarette and pan covers, snacks covers, liquor bottles etc. More than a cleanup drive, it also acted as a tourist sensitization event to make them aware about the dangers of littering, careless waste and plastic disposal. This waste was passed onto the Forest Department and the Municipal Corporation, who follow a waste management system to dispose non-biodegradable waste after removing recyclable material.
The event concluded on Sunday, 16 May with a small get together and Mr. Renjan Matthew, State Director, WWF-Kerala office proposed the formal vote of thanks to the volunteers. It was one of the biggest in terms of volunteer numbers and most successful in terms of tourists response campaign organized in the recent past.
Group picture of the volunteers at the Tourist Sensitization Program
Tourists pledging their support for tigers
Volunteers going for a trek
Do’s and Don’t’s board displayed in the boat
Volunteers walking a stretch of road collecting waste