Films and Slide Shows
Whenever possible, WPSI staff
members interact with schools, colleges and other interested groups
using wildlife films and slide shows to raise urgently needed awareness
on conservation issues. Today there is growing concern about India's
wildlife, and in particular our dwindling tiger population. Both adults
and children need to be empowered with the right information and
direction on how they can help. Of particular interest is Shekar
Dattatri's path-breaking new film 'The Truth About Tigers'. This film
is an unflinching portrayal of the ground realities that prevail in our
forests and an invaluable tool for anybody who is interested in helping
to save our national animal. It guides the viewer through the life of
the tiger, from birth to death, clearly explaining the reasons why
tigers are declining. More importantly, the film provides
pointers on what the government should do to reverse the decline, and
what ordinary citizens can meaningfully do to contribute. An
accompanying website, www.truthabouttigers.org provides additional
information on tigers and their conservation. We have assisted in the
distribution of thousands of copies of Shekar Dattatri's path-breaking
film.
In central India we are using a Hindi language version
of 'The Truth About Tigers' for conservation awareness in
hundreds of fringe villages around tiger reserves. Funded by The Fund
for the Tiger and launched in April 2011, the programme uses an
audio-visual van, painted with a band of tiger stripes, to screen the
film in villages and talk about wildlife issues. The aim is to reduce
the antagonism between local people and the wildlife and to inform them
of government projects that they could benefit from. Lists of genuine
grievances are also handed over to the local Forest Department. The
programme has been very successful and in just nine months in 2011, 69
film shows and meetings were held around Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve,
which were attended by 15,610 villagers. The audio-visual van will now
be doing similar awareness work around the fringe villages of Kanha
Tiger Reserve.
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