Water for Bandhavgarh's Tigers - Reducing Conflict

We launched our campaign to provide permanent water resources for tigers and other wildlife just three months ago. It may seem strange that we start to fundraise just at the point when 99.5% of the annual rainfall in Bandhavgarh is actually falling, however, in our experience, large capital projects take time to fund so we wanted to give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our goals. This has become even more important in the last few weeks as we learnt that for the fourth successive year inadequate rainfall has fallen during the monsoon season. This year, thankfully, the deficit wasn’t as bad as in the previous two years, none the less all deficits have consequences for wildlife. More worryingly, was the absence of rainfall throughout September which resulted in the driest September for over 10 years. For now, streams, rivers, lakes and ponds, the natural water resources are filled with up to 90% of full capacity, but these resources won’t last forever and with the next meaningful rainfall not due for 9 months, it will be another testing time for the wild tigers and other wildlife in their forest home.

Thanks to your amazing support we have raised £220 ($287) during the first three months of fundraising, which could help us to fund drilling the first 24 metres (79ft) of a borehole for our next waterhole. The monsoon rains have now ended and we must now step up our efforts to raise the remaining funds needed to build a permanent wildlife waterhole for wild tigers before the natural water resources start to dry up in January 2019. We haven’t lost any tigers to poachers or poisoners this year, but when water is in short supply human-animal conflict increases as herbivores wander into villages in search of water and eat the crops whilst there; then tigers follow in search of food and kill livestock which doesn’t run away. We have already identified two possible sites for waterholes, where there are limited natural water sources but an abundance of tigers exists, as 3 tigresses with young cubs have neighbouring territories. Providing a permanent wildlife waterhole in an area like this can save the lives of up to 15 wild tigers plus countless other wild animals which share their forest home.

On 04 October 2018, it was be exactly one year since the last tiger was killed by poachers in Bandhavgarh, whilst this was a great achievement by our patrollers it is important to remember that when the last tiger was poached she left 3 orphaned 6 month old cubs, which have survived due to interventions including a Tigers4Ever funded solar powered borehole pump to provide year round water in 2 manmade waterholes for the young tigers.

Just before the onset of the monsoon, two tigresses gave birth to three cubs each which will again increase the tiger numbers in Bandhavgarh. Tiger census results are due towards the end of this year and Madhya Pradesh is once again expected to regain its status as the tiger state, because so many tigers are surviving in Bandhavgarh. This, however, causes different issues as territorial space is at a premium and tiger-tiger conflict becomes a more frequent occurrence. We are looking at other new projects which will help to restore depleted tiger habitat, including tree planting schemes which will complement our waterhole project: https://goto.gg/34315, and help to stabilise prey numbers meaning that young tigers will need smaller territories.

We hope we can build upon the success of the two waterholes funded in 2018 by funding at least one more waterhole before the end of this year, but we cannot do this without the funds to complete the work. We need to raise £10540 (US$13800) so that we can start work before the natural water resources run dry. We will be looking at offline fundraising activities to boost funds too but hope that some of you will sign up to donate monthly and help us to benefit from matched funding bonuses at: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/water-for-bandhavgarhs-tigers/?show=recurring.

If you feel that you would like to make a difference for these precious wild tigers: £10/US$13 could help us to drill 1 metre (39.5 inches) of borehole, whilst £75/US$98 can help to pay wages to clear a site in preparation for a new waterhole to be constructed. All donations, however large or small, will help to reduce human-animal conflict and the risk of wild tigers perishing at the hands of humans.

I would like to thank you on behalf of the wild tigers, which we are keeping safe; and on behalf of the wider tiger community in Bandhavgarh, which benefits from providing equipment and labour for our waterhole projects; we couldn’t do this without you.

Links:

• Tigers4Ever Waterhole Projects
• Tigers4Ever Website