Wildlife and Nature
Mitra — Our Friends in the Wild (Film Series), India
In an increasingly urbanised world, wildlife films play a crucial role in educating and sparking curiosity about nature. Prakash Matada’s video series on local wildlife is a much needed and engaging nature education programme that fosters empathy and understanding towards wildlife. The series depicts five local wildlife species and their vulnerabilities, while dispelling common misconceptions and highlighting the need to protect them and their habitats.
Mazumdar Shaw Philanthropy’s grant enabled the creation and dissemination of these films to a wider audience. Presenting the films in local languages has broadened their reach. The series has been incorporated into the ‘Wild Shaale Conservation Education’ curriculum, slated to be shown in village schools surrounding wildlife protected areas.
The wildlife series aims to inspire children to be passionate advocates for conservation, and active participants in preserving our precious natural world.”
To be reached through ‘Wild Shaale Conservation Education’ in 2024–25
Kannada, Hindi and English, for increased viewership
ReefWatch Marine Conservation, India
Grant
Based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, ReefWatch Marine Conservation addresses the cause of marine habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in India. Through on-ground conservation projects, with essential awareness building and inclusive community work, in close collaboration with government bodies managing the marine environment, ReefWatch hopes to turn the tide on habitat and biodiversity loss in Indian coasts and oceans.
MSP’s support was used to run the Ocean Art Sundays programme in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2016-17. Ocean Arts Sundays is a free of cost environmental sensitisation program for local islander children to inspire and enable them to protect their natural heritage. The program has been ongoing and has grown to other parts of the Andaman Islands as well as Goa and Karnataka.
Ocean Art Sundays
2022
Island Explorer
School Programme
Images courtesy: ReefWatch
