Palakkad witnessed a unique wildlife photography exhibition last month. A host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, found it amazing as the exhibition consisted of photographs captured by tribal guides and watchmen who assist forest guards deep inside Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PTR) under the Participatory Forest Management Scheme (PFMS). There were over 200 pictures of the rich flora and fauna at Parambikulam and most of them were captured by S. Babu from Sungam Tribal Colony.
‘‘It was a different experience for me. I have been engaged in conservation efforts from childhood. A few years ago, the Forest Department computerised the Parambikulam Tourism Information Centre and Divisional Forest Office. The officials there trained me in computers and photography and that was a big break,” said Mr. Babu. It was only last year; this school drop-out had launched a website on the rich biodiversity of Parambikulam.
C. Selvan, G. Sasi Murugesan (Sunkam Colony), S. Natarajan (PAP Colony), and Manoj (Kuriyarkutty Colony) also have similar stories to tell. They all have been using cameras while going inside the forests as watchers and guides to click amazing pictures of the reserve which share border with Anamalai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu. They all have small cameras purchased using payments they received from the department. Mr. Babu and his friends are now attempting to make the website,www.savetigerland.com, a powerful repository of tiger conservation materials and invaluable photographs of Parambikulam.
The community-based eco-tourism now being practised at the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve involvement of 234 members of six tribal settlements within the reserve. Most of the members are now learning basics of photography, may be the first in the country.
The tribespeople, who were forced to sell their cattle and forgo other means of livelihood after the sanctuary attained a tiger reserve status, are now employed as tourist guides, forest watchers and helping hands for eco-tourism initiatives. They are paid salary by the Parambikulam Tiger Foundation
