SIMULTALA CONSERVATIONISTS (Foundation for Wildlife)

Authorization

Authorization by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Wildlife Wing, Directorate of Forest,

Govt. of West Bengal vide order no. 3030/WL/2W-632/10, to carry out Rescue, Treatment and Rehabilitation of wild

animals.

Govt. Regd. No.:

Registered under West Bengal Society Act XXVI of 1961 .Registration Number – S/1L-52527 of

2008-2009

Aims and objectives

Simultala Conservationists is an organization conceived to popularize wildlife conservation and community involvement

in conservation of both flora and fauna. It has been established for working for both man and nature. The

primary aim is to conserve flora and fauna and mitigate man-animal conflict. Our activities are concentrated in rural areas,

farmland ecology, scrub-jungle ecology and in human localities. Reptiles constitute a major portion of wildlife in the rural areas and are of pivotal importance in protecting crops

as their dietary preference is mainlyrats which are abundantinthe paddy fields. They have symbiotic relation with the

farmers and snakes are therefore one of the best friends of the farmers.

Aims and objectivesModern farming practices and the ever growing use of pesticide

and insecticide have affected the ecology of snakes, displaced them and has made them come closer to human habitats. This has raised the incidences of man-snake conflict to a

whole new level and is one of the main reasons for snake bite cases in the villages and households. Snake bite has become

one of the major reasons for death and morbidity of the rural people, though it is poorly documented and reported. It is this epidemic nature of snake bite cases in the rural areas that has

drawn attention of Simultala Conservationists also to pro-actively work for snake bite management along with its key role in conservation. Simultala Conservationists is working in

snake bite management in about 150 villages spread over five blocks in Hooghly district as well as the adjoining districts.

Aims and objectives

We are trying to carry out our responsibilities in trying to reduce snakebite mortalities and morbidities by running a round the

clock phone in service providing consultancy and guidelines to snakebite victims. And at the same time running a round the

clock helpline providing prompt service in rescuing any wildlife accidentally being trapped or accidentally cornered in

any human habitat.

We are working in association with many organization in carrying out basic research in man-animal conflict mitigation, wildlife

management as well as snakebite management.

It has been felt necessary to carry out wildlife conservation snake bite management as a prerogative.

NGO’s governance structure

The organization is governed by a Governing Body headed by President, Vice President, Secretary, Asst. Secretary, Treasurer

and Asst. Treasurer and five Executive members.

At present its membership has increase to 40 who are active in the field for conservation and for snakebite management.

Besides there are a large number of patrons from the government, academia, business community and doctors.

There are large number of students from Kolkata, Jadavpur, and Presidency universities and from different degree

colleges who are involved in the organization.

Branches are in:

Simultala Conservationists has local centres at

• Village Akuni, Under Akuni Gram Panchayat, under Jangiparablock

• Village Kiknkarbati under Kinkarbati Gram Panchayat.

ACTIVITIES FROM 01.04.2014 TO 31.03.2015

RESCUE PROGRAM AT A GLANCEREPTILES:

• Spectacled Cobra, Najanaja- 47 nos

• Monocellate Cobra, Najakaouthia- 09nos

• Russell’s Viper, Daboiarusselli-37nos

• Banded Krait, Bungarusfasciatus- 07nos

• Common Krait, Bungaruscaeruleus- 11nos

• Rat Snake, Ptyas mucosa- 27nos

• Common Wolf Snake, Lycodonaulicus- 07nos

• Checkered Keelback Water Snake, Xenocrophispiscator- 11nos

• Banded Kukri, Oligodonarnensis - 02nos

• Bronzeback Tree Snake, Dendrelaphistristis-04nos

• Eastern Bronzeback Tree snake, Dendrelaphisproarchos– 02 nos

• Bengal Water Monitor Lizard, Varanusbengalensis-01nos

• Golden Water Monitor Lizard, Varanusflavescense- 07nos

OTHER SOCIAL FOREST WILDLIFE:

• Eurasian Scopes Owl-07nos

• Himalayan Mayna-01nos

• Civet Cat Orphans-06nos

• Jackal-01nos

• Wild Cat- 03nos

• Shikra Bird-03nos

• Indian Soft-Shelled Turtle-17nos

ANTI WILDLIFE TRAFICKING ACTIVITES;SEIZED WILDLIFE FROM

DEALERS AND VENDORS:• Rose Ringed Parakeet -67nos• Baya Weaver Birds-127nos• Brahminy Sterling-116nos• Indian Rock Python, Python molurusmolurus -

02nos• Red Sand Boa, Eryxjohnii-02nos• Common Trinket Snake,

Coelognathushelenahelena-01nos• Saw -scaled Viper, Echis carinatus-02nos• Common Sand Boa, Gongylophisconicus-02nos

WILDLIFE RELEASE PROGRAMMES

• Maximum rescued healthy animal has been released maintaining scientific protocol within their habitat or its surrounding area after convincing local people.

• Injured animals are bought to rescue center for treatment and after rehabilitation has been released.

• Some of the animals which we can’t release due to different sensitive public issue we released them in collaboration with forest department.

REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES:

• Rehabilitated 06 bird sellers by providing them fund to carry out other legal business.

• Rehabilitated 07 snake charmers by facilitating them with alternative work in farmlands as daily labourers.

• Rehabilitated three Civet Cats after One and a Half year of human rearing.

• Rehabilitated Three Indian Rock Pythons after rescuing them from snake dealers in very poor health conditions.

AWARENESS PROGRAMMES ON WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT:

CELEBRATIONS

• We celebrateAranyaSaptah with a rally involving children and elderly people carrying many posters with different environmental slogans and messages. Later during the day we planted trees saplings consisting of

Mahogany tree, Kath Sirish, Aamlaki , Kanthal, Aam etc.• We celebrateBanyapranDiwas with pomp and splendor . The program

started with morning rally involving kids of different age and school carrying clear message of environmental concern and wildlife

conservation. Later during the day there was sit and draw competition for the kids of three age category participated.

• Followed by guest lectures, where Officials from the Forest Department of West Bengal delivered lecture on the importance of wildlife conservation and forestry. Later during the day a wildlife photography exhibition was

inaugurated .• Then there was an extravagant quiz contest where 16 teams comprising of

two players in each team participated.

Snakebite Management:

• We have provided consultancy to over 45 snakebite victims in the year 2014 – 2015.

• We have provided training on snakebite management to more than 400 Asha Health Workers in Singur Block, Haripal Block and AnkuniBlock.

• We have provided training to more than 10 doctors on understanding snakebites and identifying snakes.

• We are in the process of training most of the doctors of Hooghly district regarding snakebite.

• We have published a table top calendar guide providing doctor friendly information on the local venomous snakes and non venomous snakes also with a chapter on dos and don’ts for the doctors posted at different periphery hospitals.

Remarks

• This is a scientific organization with an orthodox approach.• This organization primarily focuses on Wildlife Conservation based

on Education, Awareness, Capacity building and Research.• This organization also focuses on snake bite management across

West Bengal and the neighboring states.• This organization does not entertain any sort of animal abuse.• This organization operates as a unit and not as a one army man.• This organization respects and follows the laws made for wildlife

protection in India and also Biodiversity protection act 2002.• Members from the organization have published papers, short

communications, articles and have also presented their research findings as scientific papers in many State, National and International level seminars and conferences since 2008.

Training National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)Jawans

Conducting snakebite first-aid awareness program with local communities

Celebrating wildlife week held every year in Oct

Training zoo staff of Manipur zoo.

Snake rescue

Contact Us

Address: Vill- Bargachia-Simultala, P.O: Nalikul, P.S.: Haripal, Dist.: Hooghly, State:

West Bengal, Pin: 712407.

E-Mail: simultalaconservationists@gmail.com,

skheto91@gmail.com

Contact Us: Vishal Santra: 9748498672, Suvendu Kheto: 8001651485