Overseas experiences are unbeatable ways of gaining a broader understanding of conservation issues, and the Conservation Science Research Group has a global perspective. In February 2024, Matt, Margaret Platell and Mike Mahony took a group of 20 undergraduate students to India to learn about the conservation issues they face over there, as well as experience the Indian culture. We landed in Jaipur, and headed to Sariska National Park to see a site where tigers had been reintroduced a decade or so ago – we missed the tigers, but did see good sightings of leopard and striped hyaena, as well as sambar and chital.
We next headed to Bharatpur and Keoladeo National Park, where we saw waterbirds in their multitudes. We ticked off 75 species in a morning here, as well as learning about how a conservation area surrounded by a large city can function.
We spent a day at the Taj Mahal, before heading down south to Kuno National Park, where cheetahs had been reintroduced in 2023. Unfortunately, they weren’t doing particularly well, and we didn’t see them, but we did see a heap of other biodiversity, and experienced an Indian wedding!
Our last destination was Ranthambore National Park – a renowned tiger sanctuary. And it didn’t disappoint. All groups saw a tiger, and some even had the tiger walk right past their open Jeep. Hectic!
As always, the people make a trip, and it was such a great group of students to experience these amazing things with. India has a much better conservation history than Australia, so there are plenty of lessons we need to learn from them.
Author - Matt Hayward
Credit: Paul McDonald
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