Tiger Watch brings to you a wildlife conservation event - WHISKERS that seeks to bridge the gap between urbanites and people working at the grassroot level in the field of biodiversity conservation. WHISKERS will be held at Maharashtra Nature Park, Sion (Mumbai) on 27th and 28th March 2010. Please see the event poster at: http://landofthewild.blogspot.com/2010/03/whiskers-its-time.html. The event schedule is available at: http://www.landofthewild.com/schedule.pdf You could e-mail us on tigerwatchevents@gmail.com for any queries. We look forward to seeing you. Warm Regards, WHISKERS Team Call us: 09920438775/ 9820969960

1. WHISKERS 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, Mar 27 Sunday, Mar 28
10:30 Introductory talk by Ashutosh Mahadevia Interactive session: Problems of Large
(Sec. Tiger Watch) Carnivore Conservation by Vidya Athreya
11:30 Film screening: Curbing the Crisis Film screening: Mindless Mining
12:30 Film screening: The Ridley’s Last Stand Film screening: Curbing the Crisis
13:30 Film screening: S.O.S Save Our Sholas Film screening: The Last Migration – Wild
Elephant Capture in Sarguja
15:00 Interactive session: Wildlife Corridors - A Interactive session: Gharial Conservation
Viability Assessment by Ovee Thorat by Suyash Katdare
16:00 Film screening: Shores of Silence – Whale Film screening: Curbing the Crisis
Sharks in India
17:00 Interactive session: It’s all about the hiss Slide show: Land of the Wild - Wild
by Kedar Bhide India's photographic sojourn by Sachin
Rai
All day long Photography Exhibition & Sale; Theme: Photography Exhibition & Sale; Theme:
Feline Reflections Feline Reflections
All day long Livelihood matters: Sale of products and Livelihood matters: Sale of products and
handicrafts made by the Moghiya tribe handicrafts made by the Moghiya tribe

2. WHISKERS 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE
FILMS
Curbing the Crisis
Duration: 28mins
An investigation into organized poaching in and around Ranthambhore by Tiger Watch, Curbing
the Crisis contains shocking revelations that reflect how deep and grim the problem of wildlife
trade is. The rare clandestine footage of confessions made by poachers belonging to the
Moghiya tribe is sure to leave one feeling disturbed but not completely out of hope as Tiger
Watch now works with this tribe to ensure that they have an alternate livelihood option.
S.O.S. Save Our Sholas
Directed by: Shekar Dattatri | Duration: 24mins
India's Western Ghats are home to rare species found nowhere else on the planet, but they've
been ravaged and systematically destroyed over the decades. All thats's left of once extensive
forests and grasslands are scattered fragments. S.O.S Save Our Sholas provides a glimpse into
the amazing diversity of life in the 'shola' forests of the southern Western Ghats. The film also
illustrates some of the pressing problems that beset this fragile landscape and seeks to inspire
viewers with examples of conservation successes that came about because of people's action.
The film aspires to stimulate a renewed interest in the conservation of the Western Ghats,
which are the birthplace of most south Indian rivers, and a lifeline for hundreds of millions of
people in peninsular India.
Mindless Mining
Directed by: Shekar Dattatri | Duration: 12mins
A film about the damage inflicted by a huge iron ore mine on the rainforest and rivers of
Kudremukh, Southern India. Shown in surrounding villages and to community leaders, the film

3. WHISKERS 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE
generated overwhelming public and political opposition to the mine. The film was submitted as
evidence in a public interest petition filed with India’s Supreme Court and conservationists won
a major victory when the court ordered that the mine be closed by 2005.
The Ridley’s Last Stand
Directed by: Shekar Dattatri
Duration: 45mins
A poignant look at the lives and times of the Olive Ridley. Tens of thousands of these sea turtles
visit the coast of Orissa, in India, to mate and nest. As a species they have been around for
millions of years, but today these gentle giants of the sea are in conflict with man. During the last
six years, over 75,000 dead ridleys have been washed ashore on the beaches of Orissa. The
Ridley’s Last Stand provides rare insights into the natural history and conservation of these
mysterious creatures. Will the ridley go the way of the dodo and the passenger pigeon…or can we
save it with timely action?
Shores of Silence – Whale Sharks in India
Directed by: Mike Pandey | Duration: 24mins
It is a landmark film which brought about major legislative changes to protect whale sharks
worldwide. This documentary depicts the needless killing and harvesting of whale sharks by
poor Indian communities. In response to the film, the Indian government introduced legislature
to ban fishing of whale sharks, declaring them endangered species and protecting them under
the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. This gives whale sharks equal status to other endangered
species such as tigers and rhinoceroses. Internationally, the film helped to bring the whale shark
global protection under CITES. The film won 11 international awards including The Wildscreen
Panda, also known as the Green Oscar. Recently, the film received four stars from the Hindustan
Times.
The Last Migration – Wild Elephant Capture in Sarguja

4. WHISKERS 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE
Directed by: Mike Pandey | Duration: 54 mins
This film was the first Asian film to win the world’s most prestigious award – The Green Oscar –
Panda Award at the Wildscreen, 1994. It subsequently went on to win seven other international
awards. The Last Migration depicts a 42-day wild elephant capture operation in Madhya
Pradesh, India.
Driven out of their home range in Bihar, due to excessive deforestation; a herd of wild elephants
migrated to eastern Madhya Pradesh 300 kms away; where the sterile teak plantations, devoid
of diversity, could not sustain the herd. Desperate for sustenance they went on a rampage and
created havoc amidst the terrified tribals of the remote district of Sarguja – where elephants in
the wild have been unheard of, for more than a century. Since 1988, 45 people had been killed
by the herd and unabated devastation of their fields and homes left the villages bereft of their
livelihood. The herd was finally captured in 1993.
The film portrays the man-animal conflict and its repercussions; the tussle between the ancient
pachyderm and the tribals of the forest, which is a manifestation of a deeper and more vicious
cycle; the disruption of the balance in Nature, on which rests the harmony of existence – the
devastation of this critical framework, by mankind’s relentless and unsustainable obsession with
power and development.

5. WHISKERS 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE
INTERACTIVE SESSIONS
Wildlife Corridors - A Viability Assessment
Speaker: Ovee Thorat | Duration: 45 mins
Ovee Thorat will give a presentation on Corridor Viability Assessment between Ramgarh
Bishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary and Ranthambhore National Park, containing introduction to the
concept of Wildlife Corridors. The talk will focus on the project carried out at Tiger Watch for
Crossing the Line Films. It will also bring in the story of tiger Broken Tail and his extraordinary
journey through the study area of the project. The talk is intended to address the need for
wildlife corridors and their importance for continued existence of the natural world.
It’s all about the Hiss
Speaker: Kedar Bhide | Duration: 45mins
The best time to know everything about snakes – in & around Mumbai! Kedar Bhide, who is a
renowned herpetologist will share his experiences working with snakes within our city along
with interesting stories about rare snakes found deep in the forests of Arunachal as well as the
threats to the survival of these beautiful and misunderstood creatures.
Problems of Conserving Large Carnivores
Speaker: Vidya Athreya | Duration: 45 mins
Not everyone loves the tiger and bear and the wolf: how do people that live with these animal
cope? Learn about the complexities associated with conservation in India with Vidya Athreya, a
carnivore ecologist who works extensively on human-leopard conflict in Maharashtra.
Gharial Conservation
Speaker: Suyash Katdare | Duration: 45mins

6. WHISKERS 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE
Tiger Watch has been conducting Gharial expeditions across River Chambal since January 2008.
Suyash Katdare, the Project Coordinator, will talk about the findings of these expeditions,
especially the latest one that happened in December 2009. The session will cover various
aspects like the threats that the Gharial faces, the mindsets of the people, the current
conservation scenario prevalent in the region.
Slideshow: Land of the Wild - Wild India's photographic sojourn
Speaker: Sachin Rai | Duration: 45-60mins
This slideshow will showcase India’s unique biodiversity and introduce the audience to the
country’s amazing wilderness, with its varied hues and moods. Sachin Rai is a well-known
wildlife photographer who will present his journey through different landscapes in India right
from the rainforests to the deserts. He will also discuss with the participants on how
photography can be a medium to document and facilitate conservation objectives of individuals
and organisations.

7. WHISKERS 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
The exhibition will enable Tiger Watch to raise funds for several of its activities as part of the
proceeds from the sale will be donated to the organisation. Two leading wildlife photographers
– Dr. Dharmendra Khandal and Sachin Rai will showcase some of their best works.
About Dr. Dharmendra Khandal
As a field biologist with Tiger Watch, Dharmendra Khandal has strived to curb wildlife poaching
and trade in and around Ranthambhore. Dharmendra has also initiated wildlife research and
monitoring programmes. He is an excellent photographer and his work documents the
behaviour of some of the rarest wildlife species that exist both within and outside Protected
Areas.
About Sachin Rai
Stepping into the photography scenario more than a decade ago, Sachin has passionately
explored far and wide corners of the country to capture vivid images of wildlife ranging from
tiny beetles, rare herpeto-fauna to the mighty beasts of forests and deserts. His photographs
have found their way into a variety of magazines, newspapers, books and calendars. He has
very liberally shared his evolved sense of design for making films, developing literature or
presentations to facilitate conservation objectives of several organizations.
Apart from a special mention, Sachin received the Sanctuary Asia - ABN Amro Award for the
Photographer of the Year (2007) and also the Joint Second Prize for Photography at the same
event. He has also received a Special Mention in the Better Photography Wildlife Contest in
January 2009. In the same year, Sachin received two Special Mentions at Sanctuary
Asia’s Photography Competition. In his words, "Exploring the wonders of wilderness is a fervor I
cultivated since childhood. Wildlife Photography gives me immense pleasure and contentment
and I would like to spend all my life chasing my passion and initiating people into this
marvellous world!"