By Chandrasekar Das, Wildlife Biologist, Biodiversity Conservation Team
Indra Nagar is a village within the Nadugula Panchayat in Kotagiri Taluk, with 192 houses in the village. For the past two years, the Biodiversity team has worked to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife in the village through initiatives such as solar-powered streetlights, closing unused/unsafe wells, establishing a community media network, scholarships, and Human Wildlife awareness meetings. Streetlights enhance lighting for villagers at night, increasing their safety by deterring wildlife from entering the village after dark. By closing wells, we reduce the risk of accidents and help prevent wildlife from accessing these areas. Our community media network, established in June 2022, helps spread information about wildlife safety, conservation efforts, and village news. Through scholarships, local students can pursue higher education, leading to better career prospects and contributing to community development. Finally, we conduct Human Wildlife Awareness meetings and nature education programs for villagers and students regularly.
In recent community meetings, we decided to build one animal-proof waste storage system in the village. Addressing waste management issues is crucial for promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife in the village. Improper waste management can attract wildlife to human settlements, leading to conflicts and negative outcomes for both people and animals. For this reason, selecting a suitable location and building an animal-proof waste storage system is a significant step towards improving waste management and reducing human-wildlife conflict.
An animal-proof waste storage system is crucial for several reasons. Proper waste management prevents wildlife from accessing and scavenging through trash. This is important for the safety of both animals and humans. Animal-proof systems also promote better waste management practices, encouraging people to store waste properly and follow recycling and disposal guidelines. With the new animal proof waste storage system, trash is separated by biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials. In addition to this, we provided each household with two dustbins to separate waste in the same way. Overall, these systems contribute to a cleaner, safer, and more environmentally friendly community by managing waste in a way that deters animals and minimizes negative impacts. This waste storage system is funded by DCB Bank.
