Cyclo-walk for Bengal tiger
Led by avid trekker and Thane resident Sunil Joshi,54,the walk will be undertaken from December 14-February 10.
Fifty-eight days,60-odd participants,1,287 kilometres and 46 pit-stops — all for the conservation of the Royal Bengal tiger. Come December and a group of walkers and cyclists will traverse the distance from the highlands of Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary in Vidarbha all the way to Mumbai,as part of ‘Tiger Cyclo-Walk’. Led by avid trekker and Thane resident Sunil Joshi,54,the walk will be undertaken from December 14-February 10.
Joshi,who started trekking at the age of 19,came up with the idea of the walk around two years ago. “The concept of marching long distances for a cause is done often in Western countries. The vision for our march is the return of the Royal Bengal tiger as the umbrella species to preserve not just the tiger but other animals in the wildlife reserves of Maharashtra,” said Joshi.
Umbrella species are those selected for making conservation-related decisions,typically because protecting these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitat,Joshi says. In 1985,Joshi,then 25,was a part of a 2,685-km walk from northern tip of Norway to its southern tip,to create awareness about re-forestation.
Joshi recounts that two decades ago,trekking groups could walk from Thane to Borivali through forest area. However,with widespread human encroachment upon forest land and the consequent disturbance to wildlife habitat,leopards entering settlements has been common. “No one dares trek on this route anymore,” he said.
Joshi considers himself lucky because he makes a living from his biggest passion — adventure. He runs a business of manufacturing and selling mountaineering gear,in Thane. Around Rs 6 lakh will be required for the 58-day journey to meet the expenses of food,stay,travel and miscellaneous activities. “I am hoping a chunk of the money needed will be raised through individual donations,crowd-funding,corporate funding and through the small amount that the participants have to chip in. The shortfall will go from my pocket,” he said. The group will be divided into five teams: educational team,walking team,cycling team,support team and a PR team. A support vehicle will assist the walk.
Joshi and his team will cycle and walk across the route and on the way,show films and slides about tigers and the environment in educational institutes and social organisations. “We will appeal to residents to accompany us on a lap on the cyclo-walk,” Joshi said. “There will also be tree plantation drives to boost awareness.” The route will pass by 14 wildlife sanctuaries.
“We wish to spread awareness and help people in and around the state’s forests to protect the jungles. The plantation of Indian origin trees will balance the ecology. Protecting the wilderness will,in turn,protect the tiger,” said Joshi.
Shalik Jogwe,wildlife enthusiast from Chandrapur,Dr Susan Sharma,a social entrepreneur,Phil Davis,founder at Tiger Awareness,Dr Sudhir Gaikwad Inamdar,Amol Bais — a social educator in Tadoba and ecologist Vivek Kulkarni will help Joshi in the endeavour.
Participants will walk for nearly six hours daily,covering a distance of 25 km on an average. Around 40 participants,including zoologists,geologists,botanists,students and businessmen — have registered so far,six of whom have pledged to cover the entire distance.
stuti.shukla@expressindia.com
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