“It shall be wonderful if people to people contact between Chile and India can be increased and the governments facilitate mechanisms for the same that helps in easy and visa-free travel.”

(Mini Narain with STRIPES members and supporters)

 Manish Uprety: Dear Mini, thank you for sparing your valuable time for Nueva Diplomacia. The first thing that comes to mind is that India’s tiger population has seen a 30% increase and the country has almost a third more tigers than it did four years ago. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the tiger population had risen from 1,706 in 2011 to 2,226 in 2014, and that a number of government initiatives to streamline tiger conservation were behind the increase. As a professional who is involved in wildlife conservation efforts, how do you feel on this great success story?

Mini Narain: Thank you Manish. It is a pleasure speaking with Nueva diplomacia on behalf of STRIPES.Though I must say that as an individual this news is elating but as a conservationist it is not very heartening news. We are increasing the numbers of Tigers in India but our forests and Tiger habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate and therefore an increased population of Tigers will have no space to live. The government has taken good initiatives and the forest department has by and large shown a consolidated dedicated effort to achieve this feat but I fear that all these efforts may be cause of more concern later.

Manish Uprety: I congratulate you and others who are involved in the wildlife conservation in India. Please tell us about your involvement in wildlife conservation and how did STRIPES come into existence?

Mini Narain:STRIPES is an initiative of some wild life enthusiasts and dedicated souls who are concerned about the Tiger and believe that the Tiger cannot be saved without saving its terrain. Saviours of Tigers Range Indigenous Prairie and Eco-Systems aka STRIPES is striving to justify its name and motto by working through preservation to conservation. We are looking at the broader picture to make sure that we have a thriving Tiger population.

Manish Uprety: What are the main focus areas of STRIPES in India?

Mini Narain: We are working in a lesser known forest reserve for Tigers in India namely Dudhwa Tiger Reserve located in the district of Lakhimpur Kheri in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The state has a very small dwindling forest cover and the remaining forests are in small patches due to encroachment on forest land. Our main agenda is to increase the forest cover using ethnic native species of flora and establishing a healthy eco system that can sustain herbivores and provide food and terrain for the Tigers.

Manish Uprety: The common argument which is passed across is that rapid economic growth usually takes its toll on natural resources of the country. What role is STRIPES playing to protect the endangered species and what challenges do you face?

Mini Narain:It is difficult to stem economic growth and as everywhere in the world, it has taken a toll on our natural resources too. STRIPES is working towards educating the locals especially the erstwhile poachers and their children about how they can benefit from preserving the forests. We are running environment classes. We provide them with medical, physical and monetary help as and when required, like a fire or injury caused by wild life etc. We plan to expand these activities further but are hampered by lack of funds mostly.But we have faith in whatMahatma Gandhi said- patience and perseverance, if we have them, overcome mountains of difficulties.

Manish Uprety: The support of common people is vital for organizations like the STRIPES that are involved in wildlife conservation. What steps are being undertaken to secure the involvement and participation of people in the programmes of STRIPES?

Mini Narain: Dudhwa a lesser known reserve has suddenly seen a boom in tourism especially from nearby areas of the state. The influx of tourists has also brought about a mad scramble of people trying to encash it by building big resorts, the town of Palia is expanding towards the reserve at an alarming rate and there is an increase in real estate prices. The farmers who have for so long co-existed with the wild animals are caught up in money games and selling off their fields at break neck speeds in such a situation it is very difficult to make the locals understand conservation. STRIPES conducts meetings and seminars with influential locals and forest officials to involve and keep them updated with our initiatives.

Manish Uprety: Technology makes the processes very efficient and effective. How STRIPES is using technology and innovations in its programmes to reach out to people?

Mini Narain: One can find regular updates on the Facebook page of STRIPES about our activities. It helps using media and net to connect to the authorities, general public and our followers all over the world. It is our way of using technology apart from using trap cameras and thermal imagers for tracking in our efforts for wildlife conservation.

Manish Uprety: The very mention of wildlife and jungles has a certain romanticism associated with it. Are there any interesting experiences that you would like you share?

Mini Narain: The jungles have a calming effect both on body and soul. The crisp clean air, soft winds and the time of dusk …I was lost in the beauty of a grazing herd of cheetal when I saw a movement in the bushes next to our vehicle …ever so light ever so blithe the king of the jungle Tiger emerged from the elephant grass ..gave us a nonchalant look and walked across to sit right in front . A mere 100 meters away looking straight at us …the eyes boring into my soul as though saying I am the king at your mercy let me live I deserve my home my freedom and out of the blue two juvenile cubs came to cuddle up to her…I was so mesmerized by the scene that I forgot that I had a camera in my hand the only thought was that I must do anything to keep these beautiful creatures safe …

Manish Uprety:  I cannot help but think of William Blake when I think of Tigers roaming majestically in the wild.

“Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”

How can one visit STRIPES and what are the facilities available for the visitors?

Mini Narain: STRIPES operates from the premises of  Dudhwa Jungle Lore a resort located on the periphery of  Dudhwa forests. The resort is fully functional and has an on premises fine dine facility.

The nearest airport to Dudhwa Jungle Lore is Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Amausi, Lucknow. The distance from the airport to Dudhwa Jungle Lore is 225 km by road.  A visit to STRIPES at Dudhwa Jungle Lore is a must for any wildlife enthusiast who wants to experience the real Incredible India.

Manish Uprety: What is the best time to experience the wildlife with STRIPES and what can one expect during one’s visit?

Mini Narain: The best time to visit would be between Feburary- March  but Tiger sightings are more during the hot humid May /June. The other flora and fauna are visible almost throughout the season November to June including the soft ground Barasingha which is found only in Dudhwa national Park.

The unobstructed views of the prairies are a regular haunt of a variety of grass eaters like Cheetal Water Buck, Sambhar, Neelgai/Blue Bull etc. Crocodiles basking on the sandy shores are a sight to see as they share the area with huge water turtles swimming in the flowing water. The tigers and rhinos share this piece of paradise with elephants, black bear, leopard and a variety of birds.

Manish Uprety:What are the mechanisms by which people and organizations of South America can cooperate to protect the endangered species in India?

Mini Narain:  Internationally, 199 countries have signed an accord to create Biodiversity Action Plans that will protect endangered and other threatened species.There should be more and frequent exchange of learning and experiences at various levels between countries so that lessons and good practices protect the endangered species can be emulated across the globe. There is also a need that more and more people from across the globe actively join the efforts to protect wildlife and its habitat. We have to care out the world that we shall bequeath to our future generation.

Manish Uprety:What is the message of STRIPES to the people of Chile and South America?

Mini Narain: I am of the opinion that South American countries and India share similar views on various subjects. It can be said that though speaking different languages, both the cultures have common values and warmth. It shall be wonderful if people to people contact between Chile and India can be increased and the governments facilitate mechanisms for the same that helps in easy and visa-free travel. There are various other spheres where the two countries can establish exchange mechanisms and work together. Nature is something that one has to experience oneself. People from Chile and South America are most welcome to visit STRIPES and witness wildlife at Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. We extend our friends from Chile and South America a warm welcome.

Manish Uprety:Thank you Mini. It was a pleasure speaking with you on behalf of Nueva Diplomacia and to know about the great work you and the team of STRIPES doing in Dudhwa.

Mini Narain: Thank you Manish. My best wishes to your readers. I am confident that the readers of Nueva Diplomacia would help the efforts of STRIPES to protect the endangered species and their habitat in Dudhwa. Every person in the world should be a stakeholder in the noble initiative to care for the environment and join the efforts that aspire to protect and save it.

*DISCLAIMER* Nueva Diplomacia Magazine does not take any responsibility for the views and opinions expressed in the interview which belong solely to the interviewee.

 Tiger

 Dudhwa Jungle Lore 1

  Seminar

  Pair of Bul Bul

 Elephants

 Sunbathing crocodiles on the Banks of Nakaua River near Dudhwa Jungle Lore

 Deers

 Slithering beauty

 Eagle

 Mini Narain with STRIPES members and supporters

 Mini Narain with STRIPES

Dudhwa National Park- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudhwa_National_Park