WORKSHOP ON HUMAN-LEOPARD INTERACTION, GOA 2014

Atul A. Sinai Borker

Mhadei Research Center

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Shri Richard D’souza IFS PCCF Goa, Shri Sunil Limaye IFS CCF (WL) Pune, Dr. Anil Kumar IFS, Shri Sunil Wadekar, Dr. Vidya Athreya, Shri Nirmal Kulkarni, Shri Virat Singh, Shri Ranjeet Jadhav, Shri Anil Patil, Shri Rajendra Kerkar, Shri Vijay Bhaskar, Shri Rahul Khanolkar and Shri Sricharan Desai for their help and support.

INTRODUCTION

Workshop on human-leopard interactions was planned with an objective of sharing the research results from Sanjay Gandhi National Park with the Goa Forest Department and media to better address human-leopard conflict scenario. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Vidya Athreya from Wildlife Conservation Society – India along with Shri Sunil Limaye, Shri Sunil Wadekar, Shri Virat Singh and Shri Ranjeet Jadhav. The 2 day workshop was scheduled on 18th and 19th of September 2014. On 18th the workshop was for the Goa Forest Department officials at forest department conference hall in Ponda, Goa. On 19th

the workshop was conducted for the media at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panjim, Goa. For detailed schedule refer Annexure A.

ACTIVITIES

Ensuring availability and participation of Goa Forest Department officials

We collaborated with Goa Forest Department for conducting the workshop on human-leopard interactions. Firstly, we had to schedule the dates for the workshop that would be convenient for the forest department officials. Dr. Anil Kumar IFS (DCF Wildlife and Eco-tourism, North Goa) was our point of contact. After checking the availability the workshop was scheduled on 18th and 19th of September. Dr. Anil Kumar also suggested that he would invite panchayat members to attend the media workshop. He sent a letter to the directorate of panchayat to nominate 30 members from leopard conflict areas.

Inviting maximum number of media personnel to attend the workshop.

I got in touch with Shri Anil Patil (Reporter, Zee News) who had excellent media contacts and showed willingness in helping. We prepared a media an invitation letter for the media. Twenty invitation letters were distributed to newspaper editors, sub-editors and journalists. We spoke to editors of all newspapers in Goa and requested them to send at least 1 reporter, 1 sub-editor and 1 photographer from their daily. In addition to these I also individually invited independent journalists and reporters, news channels editors from Goa, magazine editors and editors of online news website to attend the media workshop by phone and e-mail.

To make it logistically easier for the media personnel to attend we organised the workshop in Panjim.

Preparations for conducting the event

The hall for the media workshop had to be booked. After checking the availability we decided to book Institute Menezes Braganza hall located at a prime location in Panjim. We met the chairman and submitted a letter to conduct the workshop in collaboration. The hall was booked for 19th

September 2014. Posters giving information about human-leopard interactions were designed and translated to Konkani. These posters were printed and displayed during the workshop. A standee was prepared to be displayed during the workshop. Manual providing human-leopard conflict management guidelines was edited for Goa. We also designed an invitation poster for media that was shared with media houses.

A workshop kit was prepared and distributed among all the workshop participants.

Picture 1: Informative kit for the workshop participants Hotel booking was done for speakers travelling from outside Goa. Cab was booked for 3 days and necessary travel arrangements were made.

RESULTS

The workshop had a good participation from forest department officials, nominated panchayat members, media personnel and local animal rescuers. Workshop for the Goa Forest Department officials

Forty seven Goa Forest Department officials attended the workshop on 18th September. Annexure B provides the list of attendees.

Picture 2: Shri Richard D’souza IFS PCCF, Goa addressing the forest department officials

Picture 3: Dr. Vidya Athreya presenting during the workshop

Picture 4: Shri Sunil Limaye IFS CCF (WL), Pune presenting during the workshop

Picture 5: Shri Sunil Wadekar RFO, Nashik presenting during the workshop

Picture 6: Shri Paresh Porob RFO, Mhadei sharing his experience of handling conflict situations

Picture 7: Shri Sunil Wadekar RFO, Nashik explaining preparation of tranquilizing dart

Workshop for media, panchayat members and animal rescuers

Twenty five media personnel, twenty four panchayat members from conflict area and six animal rescuers attended the media workshop on 19th September. Annexure C provides the list of attendees.

Picture 8: Dr. Vidya Athreya presenting at the workshop

Picture 9: Shri Virat Singh, Mumbai Mirror presenting during the workshop

Picture 10: Dr. Vidya Athreya speaking with the journalist

OUTCOMES

1. We now expect forest department officials to have better understanding of the

human- leopard interactions.

2. With better understanding of human-leopard conflict scenarios, Goa Forest Department has shown interest in taking proactive measures for handling the conflict.

3. PCCF Richard D’souza has shown willingness to purchase new equipment which is

better suited for leopard rescues.

4. Panchayat members from conflict areas now have a better understanding of human-leopard interactions.

5. Media personnel now have better understanding of human-leopard interactions

and we now expect them to report responsibly.

6. Two press releases sharing the workshop findings followed the media workshop.

Picture 11: Press release on Tarun Bharat on 20th September

Picture 12: Press release on Gomantak on 20th September

Annexure A: Schedule of the workshop

Annexure B: List of attendees for Forest department workshop

Annexure C: List of attendees for media workshop

Annexure D: Images of the proceedings

Picture: Shri Sunil Wadekar explaining the use of blow pipe to senior forest officials

Picture: Workshop participants

Picture: Inauguration of the media workshop by Shri Sunil Limaye

Picture: Dr. Vidya Athreya presenting at the workshop

Picture: Workshop participants listening to the presentation

Picture: Media workshop in progress

Picture: Discussions with the journalists