Fellowships
of the disaster that killed tens of thousands and continues to harm more than half a million Activity/ Discussion Leader: Bhopal University History Department Professor EVENING Roundtable discussion about the history of Tiger conservation and the formation of Tiger- dedicated reserves in India Location: Restaurant Activity/ Discussion Leader:
various perspectives on Tiger reserves and other conservation efforts
Over 10 days, our students will visit different locations in Madhya Pradesh, home to 75% of India’s Tiger population. They will spend time in Bhopal and the forests of Satpura and Kanha, talking to experts on the ground about the ecology of this region, the history of the Bengal Tiger, and its most dangerous predators. We will explore the policies, technologies, and economics that surround this Tiger and how these can be advantageous to its conservation. We will learn from famous photographers who spend their lives capturing the Tiger on film while learning about the importance of experiential immersion into nature– not the capture of it. By conversing with locals, experts, and leaders, students will gain a holistic understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of a decades-long, collaborative effort to save the majestic Tiger.
success of collaborative efforts between people, governmental institutions, NGOs, and other key players in the context of addressing broader global environmental and social challenges ● Learn to effectively utilize innovations, technologies, and data to monitor, evaluate, and improve Tiger conservation efforts
● Explore the broader
impact of environmental tragedies, such as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, on the social and natural fabric of the region ● Foster collaboration and teamwork through group discussions, roundtable
sessions, and student feedback on individual projects
BHOPAL
Bhopal University natural historian & NTCA member
JABALPUR, INDIA
Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
● Develop wildlife
SUGGESTED VIDEOS (LENGTH)
DAY 3 INTO THE WILD
photography skills to visually convey the essence of Tiger conservation and recognize the importance of visual storytelling in raising awareness and promoting conservation efforts
We arrive late in Bhopal and will check in at the hotel.
the broader impact of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy—one of the world’s worst and most deadly industrial disasters— on the social and natural fabric of the region. Our dinner will be a roundtable discussion with a natural historian from Bhopal University and a member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) about the history of Tiger conservation and the formation of Tiger reserves in India. Suggested readings: Jungle Trees of Central India by Pradip Krishen (book) The Bhopal gas tragedy 1984 to? The evasion of corporate responsibility by Barbara Dinham with Satinath Sarangi MORNING Madhya Pradesh Fauna and Flora History Workshop to learn about the effect of invasive species and how to identify common plants, trees, and soil types Location: Bhopal Activity/ Discussion Leader: Edible Routes Foundation expert AFTERNOON Guided tour to understand the severe and long-lasting health, social, and environmental consequences of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Location: The Remember Bhopal Museum opened in 2014 on the 30th anniversary
● 50 years of Project Tiger: Success & Challenges Ahead ( ~3 minutes ) ● India: Kingdom of the Tiger ( ~40 minutes )
We leave the city behind, and travel by car to Satpura Tiger Reserve in the early morning. At the jungle lodge, there will be a workshop on wildlife photography, where students learn how to capture different elements of the jungle using their phone cameras, and the importance of photography in conservation and awareness. In the afternoon, students will have their first foray into the jungle to use their skills and hopefully capture the Tiger and its surroundings on their cameras. The evening will be an open discussion with a naturalist from the lodge about the ethics of tourism and “ways of seeing”—the difference between experiencing the forest and filming it. Suggested viewing/reading: Ang Lee’s and/or Yann Martel’s The Life of Pi MORNING Travel from Bhopal to Satpura Tiger Reserve. Wildlife Photography Workshop to teach about the importance of photography in conservation and the skills required to capture the jungles’ many elements successfully Location: Satpura Tiger Reserve jungle lodge Activity/ Discussion Leader: Established wildlife photographer
MORNING Train from New Delhi to Bhopal Location: Nizamuddin East
Train Station AFTERNOON
SUGGESTED READINGS (SOURCE TYPE)
● Identify and analyze past, present, and future challenges in Tiger conservation, including poaching and other human-wildlife interactions ● Explore the cultural and
Discussion about Fellowship itinerary and overview of key players within the realm of Tiger Conservation in Madhya Pradesh Activity/ Discussion Leader: Fellow EVENING
● Tigers Forever: Saving the World’s Most Endangered Big Cat by Sharon Guynup ( illustrated book ) ● “India: Bringing Tigers back to the Western
THE NATURAL TYGER TYGER, BURNING BRIGHT
What is behind the Bengal Tiger’s refusal to go extinct? How can people, NGOs, technology, culture, tourism, and government come together to save endangered species? OVERVIEW: In the 1970s, there were less than 2,000 Bengal Tigers left in India, but according to a census in 2023, 3,682 Bengal Tigers are roaming the forests of India today. The conservation of the Bengal Tiger has been a roaring success by some standards, so in this Fellowship, we will go to the Tiger, we will examine its forests, and its broader ecosystem, and talk to key players from the government, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), and tourism to understand this majestic creature and how we came together to save it from extinction. In the process, we
will also learn about India’s rich tradition and culture by using the Tiger as an icon of Hindu culture to help us understand the underbelly of its attempted demise.
historical significance of the Bengal Tiger in Indian art and history
Terai Arc” by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) ( informational webpage )
Arrive in Bhopal Location: Hotel
GOALS
● Connect with local communities during
● “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
DAY 2 THE LAY OF THE LAND To understand the Tiger, we must first understand its natural world. The morning will feature a workshop with an expert from The Edible Routes Foundation about the soil, plants, and trees of the region, how they’ve changed over the years, the impact of invasive species, and how animals have responded. Students will learn how to identify common plants, trees, and soil types. In the afternoon, we will have a guided tour by a professor of the Bhopal University History Department of the Remember Bhopal Museum: understanding
● Gain a comprehensive understanding of the
village visits to understand
Panthera tigris (Tiger)” ( informational webpage )
SCHEDULE DAY 1 THE TRAIN TO THE TIGER
We will board the Vande Bharat Express train in Nizamuddin East train station and make our way South to Bhopal. Students will get to experience the magic of Indian train stations
and pass through iconic Indian towns like Agra,
Jhansi, and Gwalior. On our way to Bhopal, the Fellow will lead a discussion about the key players in Tiger Conservation and prepare students for the days to come.
Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
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BARET SCHOLARS
THE BARET PROGRAM
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