RANTHAMBHORE TIGER
RESERVE - INDIA
Project Area 392 sq kms
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Following the success of the Zimbabwe
efforts, word had reached India of how successful Rhino Rescue
Operations were. Maurice was asked if he would help to set up
anti-poaching protection for the Tiger.
Maurice arranged a trip to India with Alec Seccombe and Sandy
Cameron. Sadly Maurice died very suddenly only weeks before this
could take place. The Trustees felt that it was imperative that
the planned visit to India should nonetheless take place and this
was undertaken by Alec Seccombe, Sandy Cameron and Mark Coreth.
From this visit the blueprint for an Indian NGO Tiger Watch was
drawn. In 1998, the chairman undertook a follow up visit to Ranthambhore
National Park in Rajasthan.
The objective was to set up anti-poaching measures as a
matter of extreme urgency working together with the most senior
and influential wildlife experts in India; Julio Riberio, ex Chief
of Police for India and Chairman of Tiger Watch; Fateh Singh Rathore,
retired Director of Wildlife, Rajasthan and Vice-Chairman of Tiger
Watch, Ashutosh Mahadevia, prominent businessman and Secretary
of Tiger Watch. Tiger Watch is an Indian NGO set up specifically
to be a partner of Rhino Rescue Trust in the co-ordination and
carrying out of anti-poaching activities.
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Alec
Seccombe standing by a fig tree growing on the roof of Mehrangarh
Fort, Jodhpur, April 1997 |
Sandy
Cameron, an old India 'hand', Rao Raja Hari Singh, and RRT Chairman,
Alec Seccombe |
Ranthambhore National Park - Report
1999
Plans were made following Alec
Seccombe's visit in October 1998.
1. To improve the morale of the Forest Guards by providing skills
training, modern communications equipment and uniforms. Mr. Fateh
Singh Rathore, Project Director for RRT and Vice Chairman of Tiger
Watch, with his vast experience in the field, has prepared, with
the Forest Department, a comprehensive training programme. The
cost of this programme and that of providing uniforms is to be
funded by Rhino Rescue Trust and will include some 300 Forest
Guards and Tourist Guides. - cost for uniforms and cost for the
Training Programme total of £25,000 ($45,543.48).
2. To create a boundary wall, restore the medieval boundaries
and renovate fences where necessary to protect te Park from villagers
illegally grazing their cattle, destroying the habitat and poaching.
10 kilometres of wall, the cost of which is estimated in the region
of £500,000 ($910,869.59)( spread over two years.
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Capsule
Training Course
For guards of Ranthambhore National Park under the direction
of F.S. Rathore, Ex Field Director R.N.P.
Number of Participants
300 (including tourist vehicle drivers and guides)
Number of Groups
30 (one group to cosist of 10 members)
Curriculum of The Course
| • Communication
Techniques |
• Trips
in the Jungle |
• Educational
Lectures |
| • Census
Techniques |
•
Implementation
of Wildlife Act |
•
Forest
Legality Lectures |
| • Protection
Techniques |
• Botanical
Knowledge |
|
| • Wildlife
Watching & Tracking |
• Training
of Drivers & Guards |
|
|
Fateh
Singh Rathore, Past Director of Wildlife, Vice-Chairman of Tiger
Watch, Project Director of Rhino Rescue Trust Tiger Rescue
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Letter from India
Clothing and Training Project - 1999
Dear Alec,
I was in Ranthambore last week and informed Mr.
Dyagi and Mr. Reddy about the FCRA clearance that we have received
for the Clothing and Training Project. They have asked me to convey
special thanks to all the Trustees of Rhino Rescue Trust for wanting
to support the cause of saving the Tiger. They also believe that
the Clothing and Training Project will go a long way in boosting
the moral of a force that has been entrusted with the work of
protecting the Tiger in the field.
Fateh and myself join them in our thanks to the Trust for its
valued support.
Yours sincerely,
For Tiger Watch
Fateh and Ashutosh
(Vice Chairman and Secretary)
|
Alec
Seccombe with V.K. Reddy, Deputy Director, Ranthambhore addressing
Forest Guards in Ranthambhore National Park with (seated left
to right) Fateh Singh Rathore, Project Director of Rhino Rescue
Trust, Ranthambore, Rajiv Dyagi, Field Director and Conservator,
Forests, The Assistant Magistrate, and Ashutosh Mahadevia, Secretary
of Tiger Watch |
Trainees
before joining programme
|
Report
form Ashutosh Mahadevia - Secretary Tiger Watch - 2001
The Training Programme
for the Forest Guards in Ranthambhore has been a great success.
On completion of the Programme all candidates were equipped with
uniforms, berets, blankets and rucksacks. This has done wonders
for the morale of the Guards and relations with the Forest Department
have improved immeasurably. These good relations are now the basis
for many other projects that are to be taken up for our common cause
of protecting wildlife. In all this I must thank Rhino and Tiger
Rescue for your support. (Rhino Rescue Trust provided £20,000($36,434.78)
for this project) .
I must say that, although Ranthambhore's Tigers are faring reasonably
well, there is still a lot to do. The wall project has once again
come up, but with a difference. When we discussed this project in
the past we were to fund the entire project on our own. This time
the Government will participate financially. The wall is to be rebuilt
in phases. The purpose of rebuilding the wall is to prevent illegal
grazing of cattle and to deter poaching. Illegal grazing turns the
land into desert and denies food to the prey species of the tiger.
Thus the prey species die and the tiger is therefore threatened.
|
Guards
outside Jogi Mahal in their new uniforms |
We are desperately
in need of funds for:
- New communication equipment to replace obsolete radios.
- Construction of water tanks/troughs to hold water drawn from
wells.
-Diesel pump sets for pumping water into tanks.
|
First
batch od Guards returning to post |
 |
Report 2004
Plans for a second programme of training
sessions and new uniforms are necessary for the continued maintenance
of the high morale needed to protect these fine animals.
Please help this Project by going to the
YOU CAN
HELP page in this website
.
Thank you!!
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