Hero of Ranthambhore

Transcription

1 Hero of Ranthambhore Hero of Ranthambhore is a program initiated since May 2007, where people in service doing exceptional jobs are honored for their contribution in saving and protecting wildlife in Ranthambhore. The nominees are chosen from either the ground staff of the Forest department, the police department or the local media. These people are chosen based on the work accomplished with their help that helped in better conservation of Ranthambhore. The award is given once every 2 months and includes a citation and Rs. 5000/-. A small ceremony is organized where the heroes are honored in a public gathering and a chief guest of distinction is chosen to give away the award. So far, 9 people have been chosen for this honor...

2 1. Mr. R. S. Kala, Ranger. Fateh Singh Rathore awarding Ranger Kala along with Tiger Watch Secretary Ashutosh Mahadevia and a personnel from the US Embassy With the co-operation of Mr. Kala who was the then Ranger of the Phalodi range of the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary, Operation Co-operation between Forest Department and Tiger Watch concentrating on anti-poaching in the area was made possible. The team had successes and the wildlife criminals got convicted. This was the starting point of a major anti-poaching drive in Ranthambhore.

3 2. Mr. Omprakash Sharma, Forester Omprakash Sharma Being Awarded by John Singhji Also in the picture Rajiv Singh, Fateh Singh Rathore and Ashutosh Mahadevia Mr. Sharma is a forester and works for the flying squad of Ranthambhore National Park. He is responsible for documenting evidence and legal cases against wildlife crimes that have helped in successful convictions of the criminals.

4 3. Mr. Girraj Sharma, Journalist- Etv (Rajasthan). Geoffrey C. Ward Awarding Journalist Girraj Sharma Mr. Sharma has been responsible for printing more than a 1000 stories in Rajasthan Patrika, a local newspaper, while he worked with them. Even after he has moved to the ETv Rajasthan a news channel, he continues to being the issues of the wildlife to people. He is one of the few journalists who understand the issues of wildlife and its protection in Ranthambhore.

5 4. Mr. Alok Gautam, SHO- Police department. Geoffrey C. Ward awarding SHO Alok Gautam Mr. Alok Gautam played an important role in the anti-poaching raid in Gangapur area in July His timely intervention helped the anti-poaching team in nabbing the criminals before the crime was actually committed. This was the first ever preventive raid, that resulted in nabbing criminals before they could find a way to commit the crime.

6 5. Mr. P. D. Gurjar, Forester. John Singh Awarding forester P. D. Gurjar Mr. Gurjar has been working for the development of the area around Balas Chowki in Sawai Man Singh sanctuary. He has been continually working with the villagers to make them more sensitive towards the issues and problems of wildlife conservation. He has recently been taking care of an abandoned leopard cub, he has named Laxmi.

7 6. Mr. Sudarshan Sharma, Forest Guard. Eminent Social Worker Manvendra Singh Awarding Sudarshan Sharma Mr. Sharma will receive the award in July 2008 for his outstanding work in preventing wildlife crimes. He has been involved in nabbing 18 criminals in different cases for wildlife crime. He was also a part of the team that took the Former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton around Ranthambhore. His hard work has earned him much appreciation from his seniors and higher authorities.

8 7. Mr. Jagdish Singh Green Teacher Madhu Bhatnagar presenting award to Jagdish Singh Jagdish Singh- ex-army personnel, posted at Khandar range. Last year 36 bull carts filled with forest wood were caught by Jagdish, the area you can imagine how difficult to work in. He has played an important role in stopping villagers from wood cutting and grazing in that area. Villagers attacked him broke his hands and head, even after 36 hours he was hospitalized in a very bad condition. Tiger Watch and Prakritik Society facilitated his free treatment. He went back and resumed his duty in the same range.

9 8) Mr. Rajveer Singh Ashutosh Mahadevia honoring Forest Guard Rajveer Singh Rajveer Singh forest guard and an expert in animal rescue and rehabilitation. He is the first to reach the spot whether it is a tranquilized tiger or rattle. In the anti-poaching squad he is the first one to be called for due to his efficiency and sharpness.

10 9. Mr. Jaagan Singh Choudhary Journalist and Wildlife filmmaker Jay Mazoomdaar Awarding Jaagan Singh Choudhary Mr. Jaagan Singh is a police constable, a sportsman, and wrestler A fit and strong man. Jaagan has been involved with Tiger Watch in the arrest of difficult poachers like Kesra Mogya, Parthya, Neniya Mogya, trader Babloo and in the capture the most important poacher Devisingh Mogya. He keeps a vigil on any poaching activities in the area. He is a brave and fireless Police constable of the department.

11 This award is committed to select and encourage people continually working on the groundlevel and are committed to ensuring a safer environment for the wildlife. It is important that people working on the ground-level are continually motivated to encourage them and ensure a long-term commitment towards wildlife protection. It is very difficult to work on the field conditions and despite all odds, the staff on the field level continues its fight for the tiger s survival. It is in due acknowledgement of their efforts that this award was initiated to honor these true heroes of Ranthambhore. The program is supported by two Ranthambhore friends, Mr. Varun Bery and Mr. Vikrum Vohra.