After conducting 14 preliminary focus groups last year in villages surrounding Sariska Tiger Reserve it became clear this unique story of cultural-ecological heritage, loss and rebirth concerning Sariska's tigers needed to be told. Yesterday I completed my 13th focus group and have a goal of 20 by July 24th. Getting there is an adventure in itself! Each village chosen is within a 15km radius of the park boundary and most of the time it would be a stretch to call the paths we take “roads.” We go until our vehicle can go no further, then we go until our feet meet a welcoming face and gather round the family/community elder. I typically spend between 45 minutes and an hour talking specifically to 4-10 people; while the rest of the family gathers round to watch and listen. The topography is just as 'up and down' around the 866 square km park as the attitudes and emotions are concerning the loss of all Sariska's tigers and the subsequent reintroduction in 2009.
Summer 2014 was spent in Rajasthan and Maharashtra conducting preliminary research on a variety of research topics under the large umbrella of human-wildlife conflict. The area outside Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra was my intended dissertation research site. Human-tiger conflict is high in the area as the reserve, buffer zone and human-dominated landscapes all boast large tiger populations (with 27 tigers found in the corridor between Tadoba and Nagzira alone). While I was able to have unprecedented access to individuals who have experienced human-tiger conflict and conduct several interviews, accompany forest guards on their daily beats, and have face to face encounters with tigers, unfortunately, for logistical reasons I will not be able to undertake my dissertation research there. Yet, I have a long-term interest in the area surrounding Tadoba and am currently working on a large-scale project proposal involving tiger conservation and human livelihoods. As a STCO volunteer for four weeks last year, and with one of four weeks under my belt this summer, I have been part of rescues for the following species:
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