Jungle Lodges and Resorts are going to conduct another batch of their Naturalists’ Training Program, which , , and I, amongst others, took last year.
Greetings from Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd.!
We are pleased to inform you that the dates for the next Naturalists Training Programme has been finalised. The details of the programme are as follows.
Date : 23-25 March 2007
Venue : JLR’s Bannerghatta Nature Camp, Bannerghatta National Park
Fee : Rs. 4250/- (incl. board, lodge, training, workshop material and kit)
Registrations : Will be on first come first serve basis as there are limited seats available. A passport size photograph is necessary for registration
Last Date : On or before March 15, 2007
A tentative schedule for the programme is given below.
Those interested may kindly register write back to me at karthik@junglelodges.com for any clarifications.
S.Karthikeyan
Chief Naturalist
Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd.
II Floor, Shrungar Shopping Centre
M.G.Road, Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel:080-25597021 / 24 / 25
Fax : 080-25586163
Naturalist Training Program
Day 1:
1. Biodiversity in India
2. Naturalist – Role etc
3. Intro to Birds
4. 3 hour nature trail
5. Wildlife Film
Day 2:
1. 3 hour nature trail
2. Discussion on nature trek
3. Bird Behaviour
4. Visit to bio park
5. Nature walk
6. Discussion
7. Intro to Mammals
Day 3
1. 3 hour nature trail
2. 1 hour discussion after breakfast
3. Intro to Plants
4. Lunch
5. Why save wildlife
6. Interactive feedback
Having given the details, here is my take on the program.
Since the time that , and others took the course (at that time it was intense inputs on a lot of fronts), it has become birding-specific. However, Mammals and flora are touched upon, and reptiles or insects are not discussed, too. The program would be of use to someone who is interested in learning the basics of bird-watching. However, what does happen is that the contacts with the other students (many of the people in my batch were committed wildlifers/birders) are quite useful.
One of the major pluses would be meeting S. Karthikeyan, the Chief Naturalist of Jungle Lodges and Resorts, who will be conducting the course. Karthik has been with WWF for many years before joining JLR. But more than his professional details…his knowledge of Nature is pretty vast. Whenever, in the wildlife trips or gatherings I have attended, there has been a query about some aspect of wildlife, the answer is,usually…. “The best person for that is Karthik.”
I started an egroup (still pretty active) for everyone who has taken the program. I am planning to set up an initiative for a Volunteer Program for JLR, so that any of us who have taken the course can help out JLR on a voluntary basis when the need for naturalists is very high.
