Turtle Festival 2009 (22-23 March): A report

The long awaited 4th turtle festival was successfully organized at Velas.

Nearly 350-400 nature lovers attended this event. Managing of such a big crowd at a remote place like Velas was really a challenge, but with the wholehearted support of residents of Velas and nature lovers from all over Maharashtra & abroad it was possible to carry out the program schedule successfully. Noted Marathi film actress Amruta Subhash was the chief guest.

Here are the highlights:

• The fourth Turtle Friend Award was bestowed upon Shri. Jayant D. Kanade, the man behind successful turtle conservation at Maral village from Raigad District.
• Second edition of the book on marine turtles in Marathi was released.
• A DVD on turtles - "Kasavaa Tujhyaach saathi" was published on the occasion.
• The release of newly born hatchlings to the sea was the high point of the festival.
• SNM has decided to raise a corpus fund of Rs. 25 Lakh as SNM Nature Conservation Fund for nature conservation activities to be carried out in future.
  Members of SNM contributed Rs. 1 Lakh as seed fund.
• In the village at the residence of Shri. Bala Upadhye a new Marine Turtle Information Centre was inaugurated at the hands of Shri. Balwant S. Barve, trustee of Barve Charitable Trust, Pune.

During the festival a few local residents offered their services for lodging & boarding of tourists in their houses. Local women Self Help Groups supplied snacks & tea at their stalls while youth groups arranged Kokam sharbat & Coconut water stalls.

One of the main objectives behind the festival was to create an alternate source of income for the local residents, and this objective was nearly fulfilled during the 2 days.

Click here for the festival photos.

 

What's new?

January 2009

Shri. Vishwas (Bhau) Dattatray Katdare of SNM received the prestigious Sanctuary - RBS Wildlife Service Award 2008!

About the award Shri. Katdare feels - "Though this award honored me personally, I feel it also goes to all my colleagues and those who have helped, guided and supported the mission."

Read more about the awards