WILDLIFE ACTIVITIES

1. CONSERVATION OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED – GHARIAL (Gavialis gangeticus)

While the gharial, or fish-eating crocodile, used to range widely in South Asia’s river systems, it is now feared to be headed for extinction.  Its habitat is restricted to a few small areas in India and Nepal, with perhaps only 200 specimens now living in the wild. Recently we have rediscovered a new population of Gharial in 500 km stretch of river Hooghly in West Bengal .

 

2. STUDY OF FAUNAL POPULATION

Over the last many years we have been studying the habitat, behaviour and population status of many faunal population in our study area in Belun and else where in North and South Bengal.

 

3. PEOPLE’S BIODIVERSITY REGISTER (Biodiversity Assessment)

iREBEL is working in collaboration with the Biodiversity Management Committee of Ketugram II Panchayet Samiti to create a Peoples Biodiversity Register (PBR) for the Ketugram II block of Burdwan District, which encompasses 12 villages within an area of over 25 square km.  The Ketugram II Panchayet has seven Gram panchayets and each of will have its own PBR. Activity for first PBR has been initiated in Nabagram Gram Panchayet. 

 

4. GRASSLAND PRESERVATION AND ENHANCMENT

 Over the past several years, iREBEL has worked successfully with local landowners to preserve (through permanent acquisition or easement) five hectares of land as grassland ecosystem along the banks of the river Shibai in Belun.

 

5. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

iREBEL has been working with villagers for over ten years to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in crop fields.  In this regards our organization is promoting the use of organic compost in agricultural practice.

 

6. INDUCED BREEDING OF INDIGENOUS FISHES

We have successfully developed a model hatchery unit for induced breeding of Clarias batrachus or walking catfish (magur in Bengali).  This low-cost model can be replicated anywhere using locally available materials.

 

7. EDUCATION / MASS AWARENESS CAMPAIGNING FOR SPECIES CONSERVATION

We believe the most effective means of conserving nature is to refamilarize local people with the interdependence of species, including humans, in the web of life, and to support them in protecting that web.  To us, “mass awareness” doesn’t always mean making flashy or sophisticated presentations – it means talking in simple and real terms, to individuals and groups, and providing support to fuel enthusiasm.