SATPURA NATIONAL PARK

Field Research

Satpura's Needs

Our field research in Satpura National Park focused on designing a transportation system that could cater to the diverse requirements of Wildlife Rescue operations, Surveillance & Patrolling, and Safari & Tourism. We observed that the rugged terrain and dense forest cover of the park demand a transportation system that is rugged, durable, and efficient. Our research highlighted the importance of equipping vehicles with advanced technologies such as GPS tracking, thermal imaging, and communication systems to enable effective monitoring and enforcement of park rules. Overall, our research showed that a well-designed transportation system is crucial for the smooth functioning of Satpura National Park's various operations.

Satpura National Park

WILDLIFE RESCUE OPERATIONS

SURVEILLANCE & PATROLLING

Our research highlighted the need for a transportation system that could rapidly access remote areas of the park and transport rescued animals to safety, equipped with specialized gear and medical facilities.

We identified the importance of advanced monitoring and communication equipment, such as GPS tracking and thermal imaging, in ensuring effective enforcement of park regulations by park rangers.

SAFARI & TOURISM

Our research highlighted the significance of designing eco-friendly and comfortable transportation options for tourists, while minimizing the impact on the park's ecosystem. The transportation system should provide a safe, enjoyable and informative experience for visitors.

WILDLIFE RESCUE OPERATIONS

Wildlife rescue operations play a crucial role in India, where the country's rich biodiversity faces numerous threats, including habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Effective wildlife rescue operations not only help in saving endangered and threatened species but also ensure the survival of the entire ecosystem. The rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife require a coordinated effort between various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and local communities.

Office of the Field Director,Satpura Tiger Reserve

PPXQ+GWH, Ginni Compound, Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh 461001

Inspection & Evaluation

RAPID RESPONSE UNIT

BOLERO CAMPER 2008

14 years in service improper maintenance
Under-equipped
No mechanism to load the cage
Noisy vehicle
Lack of inter-vehicular communication lack of basic amenities (torch, water bottle, first-aid etc.)
No air conditioning
Difficult ingress & egress.
Restricted movement / no movement of search lights (beacon).
No straps & grapple hooks to secure cargo/stowage
No GPS systems/physical maps
Lack of electronic systems (power windows, ADAS etc.)
No wrench
No fuel cans
No safety systems (air bags)

Pradeep Sharma

DRIVER & RESCUER

SWARAJ T3500

Improper maintenance.
15 years in service.
Glitchy hydraulic system.
Improper seating space.
Lack of ergonomically defined space.
Lack of surveillance in the bay area.
No humidifier for animals.
Noisy systems.
Lack of proper ventilation.
Good ground clearance.
Lack of satellite & navigation systems.
Lack of electronic systems.
lack of basic amenities.
Difficult ingress & egress.
No proper lighting system (in & out).
Lack of communicating device systems.
No wrench.
No off-roading tires.
No safety systems (air bags).

No humidifier for animals.
Small cage.
No automatic mechanism to bring the cage down/up.
No GPS/Satellite Navigation systems.
No camera surveillance in bay area.
No search light systems customized bumper to increase approach angle.
No off-roading tires/all terrain tires.
No proper space for rescue equipment.
Lack of electronic systems (power windows, ADAS etc.)
Good ground clearance.
Less capacity to accommodate rescue personnel.

BOLERO CAMPER S

RESCUE TEAM AT NARMADAPURAM

Interviews

Dr. Gurudutt Sharma

VETERINARY OFFICER-WILDLIFE

10+ years experience.
12 wheel trucks are currently being used to transport elephants (hired Vehicle).
Current modifications are not satisfactory.
Proper spacing of animal corridors & need for mitigation measures.
Elephants are used to rescue/catch Tigers.
Earthmovers are also used in rescue operations.
Lot of manpower & time is required to set up traps during mass capture of wild animals.
Captured/rescued animals are released to buffer/core/non conflicting zones using vehicles.
New technique & experience for every capture/rescue operations
Captured animals are monitored for 6 months using radio collar.
Shooters are hired to kill notorious Animals (maneaters etc.) international poaching links to China.
Superstition motivated poaching of Animals.
Uneducated tribals & locals are motivated to kill tigers/other exotic animals for very low prices.
Sagwan & Saal forest are pre-dominant in this region.
Local tribals & villagers are recruited for mahouts, guards & other such posts.
FFMS (forest are management system) is used to send alert through satellite surveillance.
No proper vehicle/equipment to exterminate forest fires.
Carelessness of villagers entering the core zone also causes forest fires.

Controlled forest fire is conducted between December to latest by 15 January.
Confidence building & awareness amongst villagers is done with the help of local animal grazers. 28 villages are relocated from core zones (चरवाहा सम्मेलन).
Festivals also disturb wildlife in core zones (Panchmadi).
NGO's play a vital role in giving funds & vehicles as they are quicker than government in response.
WTI, WWF, WCT, & ICCI & other trusts/NGO's conduct survey & development infrastructure.
On field medical treatment is given to animals.
For emergency/severe medical treatment, animals are taken to Vanvihar national park/zoo at Bhopal (MP)
Requirement of ambulance (4x4) for both animals & humans is required.
Force Toofan (9 seater) 2 vehicles are introduced in safari. They have no proper service duration & also have low ground clearance.
19 vehicles are there for safari (15 vehicles were present for safari in reality).
K9 units have been used in Pench & Satpura for tracking pangolin burrows, scat & feeding locations.
Fully modified vehicle (as per requirement) is preferred than the base model being provided which take a lot of time & paper work to get it modified.
As per govt regulation, the vehicle width cannot be increased even after required modification.
Pending fogger installation in rescue vehicles to maintain cooling inside the vehicle.

Vasanth Pandey

RESCUER

Bhagwandas Sagar

DRONE OPERATOR & RESCUER

Difficult to control crowd during rescue operations.
Often locals turn to violence when a mishap happens before or during rescue operation.
Lack of awareness among villagers regarding wild animals.
New technique & experience for every capture & rescue operations (new challenges).
Feeding of wild animals (including monkey) by villagers & tourists causes further conflict & harm.
During rescue operations, efforts are made for minimal engagement with wild animals for safe passage into the wild.
Drone is helpful to navigate in dense tough terrain.
Drone is used to capture images, to check water level & in surveillance.
Drone footages & images are shown to villagers to instill fear to not interfere with core zone.
Olympian Gagan Narang has trained the drone team in using the drone & it's application.
Predefined schedule already exists to conduct drone surveillance in the national park. Drones are used to map & plan water infrastructure in the national park.
Grazing grounds are created for grazing inside the national park.
Only one drone is in operation for the whole National park.
Drone helps in collecting video evidences of animal intervening in farm lands.

SURVEILLANCE & PATROLLING OPERATIONS

Wildlife surveillance and patrolling operations are essential in India to protect its diverse wildlife and ecosystems from illegal activities such as poaching, wildlife trafficking, and habitat destruction. The use of advanced technologies such as GPS tracking, thermal imaging, and communication systems can help authorities monitor and detect such activities, leading to more effective enforcement of wildlife protection laws.

Office of the Field Director,Satpura Tiger Reserve

PPXQ+GWH, Ginni Compound, Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh 461001

Inspection & Evaluation

DRONE SURVEILLANCE UNIT

Very small team (only 2 members).
Cinematic drone used for surveillance.
Infrequent surveillance & patrolling.
Smartphone being used as display.
Glare & small size of screen.
No rotor guards.
No weather protection.
Very less flight time (15mins).
Decent range coverage of drone (8 kms).
No AI based animal tracking (laser based).
No thermal imaging (for profiling).
No long distance focal-point camera.
No proper data management.
No payload area for additional equipment.
No Li-DAR system.
Helpful in monitoring forest fires.
Helpful in tracking human interference.
Monitoring water bodies in forests.

DJI MAVIC 3

Inspection & Evaluation

VEHICLE PATROLLING UNIT

Under equipped for patrolling.
Delay in modification process.
No air conditioning system.
Lack of Satellite & navigation system.
Lack of electronic systems (ADAS etc.)
No offroading tires..
Lack of stowage space for basic ammenities.
No beacon lights/search lights
Absence of roll cages
No personnel protection gear/equipment's.
Non customized vehicle still being used.
No safety systems
No first aid kit /training

BOLERO CAMPER S

Manish Pataria

PATROLLING DRIVER

Inspection & Evaluation

BOAT PATROLLING UNIT

WOODEN BOAT - GREAVES MODEL 3458

Old boats being used for patrolling
Noisy engine
No proper seating
Underequipped boat
No safety systems & measures
No communication system
No canopy overhead
No GPS systems
Staff are under equipped
No proper seating for navigator.
No automated driving/steering system
No utilitarian uniform for patrolling staff
No first aid kit/training
No light system/search light
No night vision (IR lighting)
Frequent foray of fisher man
Boat patrolling covers larger area in less time
Campaigns & awareness camps are conducted to maintain relationships with villagers
Political influences affect the national park Management negatively.
Migratory birds can also be seen in & around national park.

Laxminarayan Nagavanshi

VANRAKSHAK - MADAI BEAT GUARD

Inspection & Evaluation

FOOT PATROLLING UNIT

PATROL CHECKPOINT

KITCHEN

OPEN TOILETS

RESIDENCE

SITOUTS

COMMS FACILITY

BOLERO CAMPER S

Khanaiya Lal

CHOWKIDAR - FOOT PATROLLING

Covers 05-20 kms/day for patrolling
Uses M-stripes for patrolling data logs
No proper living conditions
Just one uniform provided per year
Lack of communication between chowki dhar &checkpost officers
No transport system to take chowki-dhars from entrance of national park to the assigned check post
No proper safety equipment
Underequipped for patrolling

Vulnerable to animal attacks
Required to notify every kill/death, natural/unnatural to officials
No transportation to carry monthly ration to the check post (on-foot)
No EMS & first aid facilities
No proper sanitation system. When multiple stay at the checkpost.
No fridge/electric appliances to cook.
Invertor facility for lights & water pump.

Elephant Patrolling

Elephants play a significant role in patrolling and rescue operations in India, especially in forested areas where vehicles cannot access easily. These gentle giants are intelligent, agile, and have an acute sense of hearing and smell, making them ideal for navigating through dense forests and tracking down poachers. Elephants are also used for rescuing animals in distress, such as those trapped in water bodies or those injured due to human-wildlife conflict. In addition, elephants are an integral part of Indian culture and have been used for transportation and other purposes for centuries. Therefore, protecting elephants and their habitats is essential to ensure effective patrolling and rescue operations and preserve the country's cultural heritage.

ELEPHANT

SATPURA TIGER RESERVE

Patrolling

Mahouts

Mahesh Salukar

ANJUGAM - MAHOUT

Gangaram

ISHMITA - CHARA CUTTER

Lakhan Kalame

VIKRAM - MAHOUT

Govind Basare

PERIYA - CHARA CUTTER

Mukesh Nagare

VIKRAM - CHARA CUTTER

Elephants are being used for patrolling areas where vehicle doesn't cover.
Teams patrol in different routes (overing 12 km/day) at same time.
No communication system b/w teams & check posts.
Wild animal attack mahouts while they take back the elephants after grazing in forest.
No transport from government to take the mahouts from national park gates to the check post.
Local tribals & villagers are hired as mahouts.
No proper training on personnel safety & first aid.
No medical facilities & EMS.
No onsite veterinarian & doctor.
No specific government vehicle to transport elephants.
Shift wise working.
Tough to handle elephants during mating time.
No safety gear for mahouts.
No properly defined retirement plan for elephants.
No shelter for elephants.
No kitchen for food preparation for elephants.
Breeding of elephants.
Just one uniform provided by government per year.

SAFARI & TOURISM

afari and tourism in Indian national parks play a crucial role in studying the transportation system design for these parks. The need to provide efficient and sustainable transportation while ensuring visitor safety and minimal impact on the environment is critical. Understanding the requirements of both tourists and the ecosystem is essential to design transportation systems that promote a harmonious coexistence.

Office of the Field Director,Satpura Tiger Reserve

PPXQ+GWH, Ginni Compound, Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh 461001

Inspection & Evaluation

SAFARI VEHICLES

NO CAMERA MOUNTS & HARNESS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

NO RETRACTABLE CANOPY

BREAKFAST SERVICE BY PRIVATE SAFARIS

MARUTI SUZUKI GYPSY MG413W (2000 MODEL)

INTERACTION WITH SAFARI GUIDES

INTERACTION WITH SAFARI VEHICLE DRIVERS

PRIVATE SAFARI VEHICLES

MAHINDRA THAR (2014 MODEL)

23 year old vehicles are being used for safari.
No offroad tires
No proper stowage area for first aid & other basic ammenities
No navigation/GPS system in the vehicle.
No communication system in & between safari vehicles only in during emergencies.
No vehicle tracking systems to monitor/observe during distress & emergency situations.
Not equipped with binoculars.
Not equipped with safety equipment.
No utilitarian uniform is provided to both drivers & the guides.
No retractable canopy for both driver & passengers on board the safari vehicle.
Lack of electronic systems such as ADAS (hill terrain assist), power windows, wiper system etc.

No camera mounts in the safari vehicles.
No ergonomic grab handles in the vehicle.
Lack of comfort in seats
No rear view vision for the driver.
No drinking water in the safari vehicle.
No shallow water fording.
No do's & don'ts instruction manual for tourists in safari vehicle.
No sentry mode to monitor tourists & driver during the safari (ingress, Egress during the safari except for Viewpoints).
No wrench system in the safari vehicle.
No system to safeguard tourists during mid safari vehicle breakdown.
No repair shop/service station. Nearest service station is 60kms from the park.

Tourism experience is much better in Private safari's

(Breakfast

& lunch, well informed guides)

Tourist review

No mode of transportation to take the break-down vehicle from the national park to the service station.
Too much suspension noise.
No seat belt system for passengers in the rear.
8 seater capacity.
The clearance of the vehicle is very less.
No 4x4 in the new safari vehicle.
Length of the vehicle is more, which affects narrow cuts during offroad.
Too much noise is will affect wildlife
Good seating comfort.
Has good power.
Many issues & problems observed in old safari vehicles aren't solved in the new safari vehicles.
Long bonnet hinders visibility during offroading in hilly areas.
9 seater capacity.
No insurance for vehicles
No prescribed dress code for tourists.
Tourists are very demanding and forces drivers to take detours.
No safaris during rainy season. Hence no employment for drivers during this time.

FORCE TOOFAN (2023 MODEL)

Inspection & Evaluation

DRIVER & GUIDE UNIFORMS

GOVERNMENT UNIFORM

Certification and Training: Government safari guides and drivers undergo rigorous training and certification programs to ensure they have in-depth knowledge of the park, its wildlife, and responsible tourism practices. Private safari guides and drivers may not have the same level of certification or training.
Cost: Private safari guides and drivers may charge more than government safari guides and drivers, as they offer personalized services and may have exclusive access to certain areas of the park.
Flexibility: Private safari guides and drivers offer more flexibility in terms of scheduling and itinerary, as they cater to the specific needs and interests of their clients. Government safari guides and drivers follow a fixed schedule and route.
Equipment: Private safari guides and drivers may provide their own equipment, such as binoculars and cameras, while government safari guides and drivers provide basic equipment but may not offer more advanced equipment.
Language: Private safari guides and drivers may be multilingual and able to communicate with visitors in their preferred language, while government safari guides and drivers may only speak the local language or English.
Environmental impact: Private safari guides and drivers may not always follow environmentally responsible practices, while government safari guides and drivers are required to follow strict guidelines to minimize their impact on the environment.

PRIVATE UNIFORM

Interviews

Piper McKay

Africa Tribal and Wildlife photographer

Tribal Expeditions and Safaris

No proper promotion of indian national parks/reserve forests in international communities and tourism.
Lack of direct connectivity between national parks for international tourists.
Suggestion : charted flights between national parks in india.
Scope of airport infrastructure develoment in & around national parks.
International tourists spend a lot of money in travel & stay enroute national park visits.
No government transportation system to entertain foreign tourists & guests who wants to visit major national parks & reserve forests of India.

General Evaluation of

SATPURA NATIONAL PARK TOURISM

No connectivity of buses & other public transport to & from the Satpura national park.
No Wi-Fi or phone connectivity in & around the government Guest house.
Private hotels & lodges are more profitable than the govt owned guesthouse/lodges.
No proper basic facilities & amenities such as fans, mosquito nets, charging points, hot water etc.
Kitchen hygiene was not up to the standard requirement.
No government safari conducted in buffer zone.
No hospitality services during safaris for tourists.
No binoculars for tourists.
Private homestays/lodges has no regulation on sound & lighting during night.

Interaction with

VILLAGERS OF SEHRA

Narmada Prasad

TIGER ATTACK SURVIVOUR

FOREST SECURITY GUARD

AND A FARMER

Kaliram

WEST SEHRA SECURITY GUARD

Mahesh

FARMER

DRIVER, DENWA BACKWATER ESCAPE

Tiger attacks livestock
Leopard attack for street dogs & other small animals
Deer incursions for food & grazing in farmlands.
Villagers gather in number to create noise in order to scare the predator away.
Active tiger movement in & around the village.
Forest guards use personal vehicle for patrolling & tiger allowance is given (which is less for the fuel).
Incase of damage by wildlife, villagers/victims get equivalent renumeration. But they are not given to villagers on time.
They have makeshift system to create noise to scare away wild animals.
No watch tower infrastructure at the forest guard check post to oversee incursions.
Forest guards are under- equipped to protect villagers & animals & also to defend themselves.
No basic first aid training.
Lack of awareness amongst villager on how to confront wild animals.
Local villagers are hired as guards as they are aware of the area & to increase awareness & employment opportunities.