Conserve bats in International year of bats, India

PROJECT TITLE :

CONSERVE BATS IN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF  BATS , INDIA (9024)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE  THROUGH :

GLOBALGIVING – ONLINE DONATION

REPORT TITLE:

COMMUNITY BASED OUTREACH WORKSHOP AND EXPOSURE VISIT TO ROOSTING SITES

REPORT PERIOD :

29.10.11 TO 23.01.12

COMMUNITY BASED OUTREACH WORKSHOP :

In our Thoothukudi District bats are caught up by asthmatic patients to eat for their recovery, also it is generally considered as an ugly species. Also in the visual media and film industries bats have been magnified as a symbol of terror and harror. When we start our project in our district it would not be a better entry point to us. How ever this is “International year of bats” we have taken the seminar as our first tool of approach to the near by community at roosting places. We have convene three programmed on bats. In the programme we taught the community the following points specifically

I WORKSHOP :

Date                                        :           14.11.11

Time                                       :           2.00 TO 5 .00 PM

Venue                                     :           Derose Centre , Thoothukudi

No. of Participates                :           62 students

II WORKSHOP :

Date                                        :           09.12.11

Time                                       :           2.00 TO 5 .00 PM

Venue                                     :           Vanavil Centre , Thoothukudi

No. of Participates                :           97 students

III WORKSHOP :

Date                                        :           10.01.12

Time                                       :           2.00 TO 5 .00 PM

Venue                                     :           Immayam Trust Office , Thoothukudi

No. of Participates                :           27 students x 2 batches

1. We emphasized this is year of bats. ( thro UNEP )
2.  Also we put forth point this is a not tremble mammal and it is a beneficial species.
3.  Also we taught to the community about the roosting sites of bats.
4.  As the general community has no scientific background live and not emphasized about scientific name.
5.  Also we make dear that is an “endangerous animal”. It is not a remedy for asthma and become a rare species among the animal kingdom.
6.  Also we explained the community that dept of forest, Govt of TamilNadu had announced the catching of mammals would be in result of imprisonment of 6 months and a penalty of Rs 10000 (2000 us Dollar)
7.  Another specialty of bats an our district that bats are migrated to vownia forests (Srilanka) to our roosting grounds. We explained also the migration pattern of bats to the community.       

EXPOSURE VISIT TO ROOSTING PLACE

We would select some students of biology (especially zoology ) and so far an experience visit to the bats maximum living areas.. In this occasion as the species identification is necessary. We would include the co implementing partner (Dr. Jeya prabha Prof. zoology sarah Tucker college in the exposure visit, In ours exposure visit the students community about the difference between fruit eating species and insectivorous species . Also we teach about the conservation of the bat species. All participants are interested to participate in the exposure visit with much interest and concern.

 INTERACTION WITH FOREST OFFICIALS :

As some people eat the bats for their Asthmatic complaints , the forest dept has announced the bats as endangerous species in our area . In particular area name Aathoor , in our district especially roosting area are numerous in numbers . Still the pouching is continuous therefore we had the consultation with Forest officials and Panchayat leaders of the same in  Aathoor we have request the forest officer to appoint the watch guard to avoid the catching of bats .  Our staff team  with our students , volunteers task force join in the conservatory programme.