The Organisation was set up in the year 2007, by Sunita Dhairyam who has always had a deep love for nature and wildlife. She spent a couple of years in Zambia, studied in India, and lived in the USA, before setting up her current home in Bandipur. The organisation focusses on a 360 degree conservation strategy of ensuring welfare of people and their domestic animals living in the border of villages near protected forests.
MCT started to realise the impact that large carnivores (Tiger, Leopard & Wild dog) killing livestock was having on their very own survival. The local people losing their livelihoods was creating a tremendous negative emotional response
It is critical to alleviate and reduce all chances of diseases in domestic animal populations in villages that border a critical wildlife habitat that hosts all our endangered asiatic species. One of the most critical diseases that jump from domestic
In this fragile landscape which is part of the Niligiri Biosphere, the local populations of both villagers and tribes, are poverty ridden. This is not a new fact as it is true of all areas where human and wildlife share the same space. MCT,
MCT has started “Belaku Kendra” which focuses on giving alternate livelihood training to women. We concentrate on crochet and make interesting crafts which are on sale. We pay the women
The wildlife perspective
We’re poisoned by locals as they protect their stock and livelihood after a kill.
We’re killed by hunters for our precious skins and valuable body parts.
The human perspective
We are amongst the poorest in India. We rely heavily on our cattle, crops and the sale of dung from our cattle to live.
Recent years of drought have made our fives even harder.
When the tigers, leopards and other wildlife kill our livestock and damage our crops they destroy our livelihood.
We are based in Southern India, in the western ghats working within a cluster of villages in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
We’re in one of the world’s most important conservation areas.
Compensations
0
Dogs Treated
0
In the lush forests of India, majestic tigers face peril from both man and nature. Locals, fearing for their own survival, resort to poisoning as a defense against perceived threats to their livestock. Meanwhile, hunters stalk these magnificent beasts, driven by greed for their coveted skins and lucrative body parts, further endangering the existence of these iconic creatures.
Years of relentless drought have exacerbated the plight of those living on the fringes of India’s forests. As tigers, leopards, and other wildlife encroach on human settlements in search of sustenance, they inadvertently wreak havoc on livelihoods, preying on livestock and ravaging crops. For these communities, already grappling with the harsh realities of nature, each encounter becomes a battle for survival.
“
Testimonials
What People
Say About Us
The Mariamma Charitable Trust has done really commendable work in protecting tigers and leopards from retaliatory killing, whilst also addressing the economic losses that the rural people face when their cattle are killed by large carnivores.
The Trust’s work in providing free health care and support for education also greatly helps to improve the lives of the poorest of the poor in the local communities
am a veterinarian with the Wildlife Trust of India and we work in close collaboration with the Forest Department of Karnataka. I first met Sunita when I was 14 years old.
She is totally dedicated to wildlife and is passionate about her work. My role is to attend to injured and dying animals and to build bridges between the local people who suffer losses and the Forest Department. Things have been so much easier with Sunita’s input. I feel she has made a great deal of change in the perceptions of the local people and has contributed greatly towards reducing human-animal conflict in this belt.
This area in the tiger reserve is a mosaic of communities, agricultural land and forests. Traditionally the villagers have tolerated the wildlife but as the human wildlife conflict has intensified, antagonism is fast replacing this tolerance.
Sunita and the Mariamma Charitable Trust are working hard to maintain the traditional tolerance through a multi-pronged approach that focuses on enhancing healthcare and compensating farmers who lose live-stock to large carnivores from the park. These steps are important precursors to achieving the larger goal – the co-existence of human communities and wildlife with both benefiting from the other; humans from the economic value that living close to wildlife can bring through tourism and for wildlife, the maintenance of their habitat, giving them optimal access to food and water. The local communities are confident in the Trust and the dynamic and committed team – your financial support will only further the cause of conservation in this outstanding environment.
