Question

Answer the following question in detail with the help of the given points:

Write in detail about experiments in Maharashtra in context of preservation and conservation of environment:

1. Bhau Katdare and ‘Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra’
2. Premsagar Mestri and SEESCAP

Answer 1

1. Bhau Katdare and ‘Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra’:
   1. Bhau Katdare and his associates work for the conservation of nature through an institute, called ‘Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra’. In 1999, Bhau Katdare read about the ‘White-breasted Sea Eagle’ as an endangered species. He began his work in Ratnagiri district, to save and conserve this bird.
   2. He created public awareness about this bird, by trekking the sea coast of the district. In this he found out 62 nesting sites of the bird.
   3. While doing this, he and his associates detected some instances of smuggling of the nests of birds known as ‘Indian Swiftlets’ (Pakoli) at Bandra island, which is located near Vengurla Rocks, in the vicinity of the Nivati port in Sindhudurg district. The nests were smuggled out and sold in foreign countries.
   4. There was a need to save these birds and their nests. ‘Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra’ worked in that direction. As a result Indian Swiftlets were included in Schedule ‘I’ (a list of wildlife, offence against which is punishable) of the ‘Wildlife Protection Act 1972’. This is a remarkable contribution of ‘Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra’.
   5. ‘Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra’ also worked for the protection of Olive Ridley turtles. The females of this species come to Velas beach (Ratnagiri district) for nesting.
   6. Bhau Katdare and his associates planned an operation for the protection of these nests. In the first year, they were successful in protecting 50 nests.
   7. 2734 baby turtles from those 50 nests, were successfully released back into the sea. This proved to be a start of an annual event, ‘Turtle Festival’.
2. Premsagar Mestri and SEESCAP:
   1. The number of vultures is rapidly decreasing in India. Vultures are the scavengers in the nature. Two species of vultures, ‘Long billed Vultures’ and ‘White back Vultures’, are observed in the region around Raigad.
   2. Premsagar Mestri and his associates are working for increasing their numbers and to make available safe food for them through ‘Society for Eco Endangered Species Conservation and Protection – SEESCAP’, a non-governmental organisation. 
   3. Painkillers (a drug called diclophenac) given to animals has proved to be toxic for vultures.
   4. Besides, dearth of trees with adequate height, scarcity of food, have also caused the decrease in vulture population.
   5. People working for SEESCAP are gradually getting success in changing these circumstances.