Chitals chewing plastic and paper

[Bhargava Srivari]

While I do not wish to take the discussion any furtehr since the publisher of the website has taken his decision, I still would like to remind you that the intended solution to the pamphlet being dumped again on the road side was that this pamphlet is supposed to be given back at the second checkpost. The reason for saying that it has to be given back is precisely to ensure that further garbage (read paper) is not thrown in the jungle.

Now, I really appreciate the website's intentions of putting up some serious conservation effort in future and hope to see that happen soon. However, I have been hearing this for quite some time now, precisely 2 years.

Regards

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Thanks for your concerns!

Good to remind us that you have been around for 2 years here. Pointing a finger is easy. However, one should remember that when someone points a finger, three fingers point back at him. Let us know what have you done?

Though you may not be aware, or care to notice, people here know the contribution of IndiaWilds.

Membership of the IndiaWilds forums is free. There have been many wannabe photographers who have come, learnt photography here and have gone. What have they done for conservation or for contributing towards building this community? Except for remarks like this?

Whenever we have done any campaign and wrote letters to the authorities, I see very less response from these photographers. I am told that many photographers don't want to write protest letters to authorities, as they fear they may be on the bad books of the forest officials. The person (or persons) questioning IndiaWilds so called lack of action in conservation field, should first mention how many times he (they) wrote letters? There are other members who are not active but send the letter and copy mark me.

Every month the newsletter highlights an issue and it goes to people. That is being beefed up with original articles by biologists and conservationists. I haven't seen your comment in any of those articles. Probably, you don't read those?

The efforts to create films is primarily meant to document and raise issues. A "Call in the Rainforest" is the first such effort, which has been screened even in film festivals abroad and in India. I am sacrificing my photography to create films and raise awareness. The money I have spent could have been utilised in photographing in bandhavgarh/ranthambhore etc 3-4 months at a stretch for a few years. That would have got me several oohs and aahs. To me it doesn't matter.

In the past I have thought of having field offices. That costs a ton of money. I am a person who doesn't believe in firing people. When livelihoods of people depend on me, I will ensure that their future is secured. That is the positive (or you may say negative) part of my leadership philosophy. IndiaWilds will do a lot of field work. However, the immediate need was in advocacy which we are doing. We will take slow and deliberate steps. No amount of sarcastic comments like yours, can make me jump and do things which is not sustainable.

Perhaps you are too young to understand that someone has a mission in life. IndiaWilds is such a mission which will continue to grow steadily.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Now, I really appreciate the website's intentions of putting up some serious conservation effort in future and hope to see that happen soon. However, I have been hearing this for quite some time now, precisely 2 years.

Regards

[Bhargava Srivari]

First of all, I must urge members to understand that if sarcasm or disrespect was intended, I would have never stuck on to this forum for 2 years. It was a mere observation.

Further, purely since the question has been raised, I do not see the need for me to explain what I have done; neither have I claimed to be planning on-the-field conservation activities nor have I been running a conservation forum. All I did was to show serious interest in whatever this forum has/would plan to do in the future.

Also, again since the issue of wannabe photographers leaving this place in early days has been broached, perhaps there is something here that needs a slight correction? ( of course only if the publishers and moderators think it that members continuing to be active on the forum is of importance in the long run).

Regards