17ZOOS' PRINT, Volume XX, Number 5, May 2005 (RNI 6:8)

Introduction and Background:From 20 February to 04 March, a series of three ‘Teachersfor Tigers’ workshops were organised in Bangladeshinviting school teachers, NGOs, zoo personnel andeducators from in and around tiger range areas ofBangladesh. These were organised by the Zoo OutreachOrganisation (ZOO), Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh, andBangladesh Forest Department in collaboration withWildlife Information Liaison Development Society (WILD),Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai, and TheGuide Tours Ltd.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Rhino and TigerConservation Fund and Wildlife Conservation Societysponsored the entire programme which was conducted atthree different venues viz., Asiatic Society of Bangladesh,Dhaka, The Sundarbans and the Dhaka Zoo, Mirpur,Bangladesh.

As has been previously reported in ZPM, Wildlife Conser-vation Society (WCS) / Bronx Zoo, USA has developed a toolfor teaching using tigers as a theme, providing a manual‘Teachers for Tigers’ with different ideas for exciting,informative and interactive teaching modules about tigersand other animals.

The objective of the programme is to educate traineesabout the different educational methods such as gamesand activities using tigers as an example, the importance oftigers and their conservation and the importance of suitablehabitats and the need to preserve forests to protect tigers.The programme also aims to train and develop creativity intrainees by making them prepare materials and mini-dramas as well as to get trainees to cooperate and becomeinvolved in group activities and discussions.

Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh was the main host andcoordinator at national level for all workshops. Apart fromselecting and inviting workshop participants, WTB lookedinto workshop logistics and translated TFT English manualinto Bangla, local language of Bangladesh. WTB is anational institution committed to conserving the biologicaldiversity of Bangladesh. It organizes action-programmesfor the promotion of sustainable natural resourcesmanagement, economic self-reliance, and environmentalsustainability through its six working units, ThreatenedSpecies Conservation Unit, Natural ResourcesManagement Unit, Wildlife Health Unit, Habitat RestorationUnit, Capacity Building and Extension Unit and AwarenessBuilding Unit. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh is a non-political, non-government and non-profit associationestablished in 1952.

Venues:The first of this workshop series was conducted at theAsiatic Society of Bangladesh from 20-22 February 2005.The Asiatic Society of Bangladesh is committed to the studyof ‘Man and Nature of Asia’. The President of the People’sRepublic of Bangladesh is its chief patron. The inauguralof the first workshop was conducted in a very simple waywith Professor Emajuddin Ahamed, former Vice Chancellor,

Dhaka University and President Asiatic Society ofBangladesh, Professor Mahfuzur Rahman, GeneralSecretary of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Md. AnwarulIslam, Chief Executive, WTB, Mr. Enayetullah Khan, Chairperson, Mrs. Nalini Mohan, WCS and Sally Walker, ZOO onthe dais. A total of 44 participants mainly teachers handlingstudents of age group 11-14 years attended the workshop.

Second Workshop: Sundarbans, Bangladesh:Most of the programmes of this workshop was conductedon a boat from 24-28th February 2005 utilizing the traveltime from Dhaka to Sundarbans and back. A total of 24participants took part in this workshop. The programmestarted on 24th afternoon with a simple inaugural invitingProf. M. Harunur Rashid, WTB Trustee as the chief Guest.The programme was planned in such a way that all theparticipants gathered on 24th afternoon and the entire teamboarded the boat to Sundarbans after inaugural andintroduction to the programme. While traveling toSundarbans the team spent first three nights on the boatutilizing the day time for the workshop programme coveringmost of the activities on the boat and a day on the island.The remaining activities were covered while returning toDhaka. The Sundarbans mangrove forest covers an area of5770 sq.km of land and water, is a part of the world’slargest delta, which has been formed from sedimentsdeposited by the great rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra thatconverge on the Bengal basin. Sundarbans is home tomany different species of birds, mammals, invertebrates,reptiles and fishes. The entire Sundarban forest comprisesthe largest remaining tract of habitat for the Royal BengalTiger, Panthera tigris tigris.

Third workshop: The Dhaka Zoo, Mirpur, BangladeshThe last workshop of this series was organized at DhakaZoo from 02-04 March with participants mostly having zooand veterinary background. About 29 participants attendedthis workshop. Honourable Minister Mr. Abdullah Al Noman,Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, was the chief guest forthe inaugural function. The other guest of honour on thedais were: Mr. S.A. Khalek, Parliament Member, Dr.Salehuddin Mahmud, DG, Department of Livestock service,Ms. Sally Walker, ZOO, Mrs. Nalini Mohan, WCS and Prof. M.Harunur Rashid, Trustee, WTB.

Agenda:The agenda, basically, was the same for all threeworkshops but with some necessary minor changessuitably made to fit the participant’s interest, particularlywith reference to zoo educators. However, the programmecovered all four units of the Teachers for Tigers manual. Inthe Sunderbans workshop few activities such as pugmarktechnique, activity on observation were conducted after

Teachers for Tigers goes to Bangladesh1Gawsia W. Chowdhury, 1Farhana Ruma, 2Amit Chavan, 3R. Marimuthu, 4Gigi K. Joseph, 5Payal Molur, 6B.A. Daniel

1 Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh2 Project Coordinator, BNHS, Nature Information Centre,Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, MAH, India3 Education Officer / 6 Scientist, Zoo Outreach Organisation,CBE,TN, India4 Nature Education Officer, Periyar Tiger Reserve, KE, India5 Go Wild Workshop, Peelamedu, CBE, TN, India

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reaching the Island. In the zoo workshop, since most of theparticipants were involved in zoo education, manyprogrammes were conducted in front of animal enclosurewith an explanation to show how the activities can bemodified to educate about other animals in the zoo.Trainers along with Nalini Mohan, WCS conducted allactivities.

Summary of the main activities of all three workshopsheld at BangladeshIntroduction (know each other): Introduction of delegatesto other participants was done through an activity called‘Sound off’. The participants issued a card carrying animalnames and the sound of the animal. The participants wereasked to make the animal sound and find a partner of thesame animal. Then they were asked to give the details ofthe partner for other to hear. Details like name, subject,name of institute and the animal they like were provided.

Workshop themes and materials: The workshop themewas explained to all the participants. The agenda was alsodiscussed briefly for the participants to understand theprogramme well and be ready for the activity.

Evaluation: The objective of evaluation is to assess theaudience how the programme affects people’s knowledgeof tigers and their attitude about them. Different evaluationmethods suitable for different audience groups wereexplained to them. One or two exercises like concept mapand attitude assessment were practiced. This exercisewas done before and after the education programme.

Tiger in culture: Tiger, in many countries, is a symbol fortheir culture. The objective of this activity is to make theparticipants understand how tiger is involved in our culture.The participants were asked to list examples of the use ofthe tiger as a symbol of culture in relevance to arts, stories,games etc. This is a group activity in which the group withhigh score tops the rest.

Tiger Range: Yesterday, today and tomorrow. This is anexercise with map of tiger range countries designed tointroduce the audience about the dramatic decrease in tigerhabitats and populations as a result of human intervention.The participants assembled three maps issued tounderstand the tiger habitat and population of the past,present and the future. This was a group activity where thegroup came up with the list of countries that had tigers inthe past and the present range and its habitat.

From Little cats to Big cats: Observing domesticated catsto learn about tigers. This is an activity to make theparticipant understand and to create interest to appreciatetiger adaptations and behaviours. This objective wasachieved through a series of fun exercises whereparticipants learnt about tiger habits, features andbehaviour (hunting, teeth pattern and functions, running,camouflage etc.).

Mini Drama: The mini dramas are designed to introduceaspects of tiger biology and conservation. This is a fun waymethod to learn about tigers. The participants were dividedinto groups and assigned four themes like hunting,parental care, courtship and poaching. Each group keeps

their subject as a secret until they play it. The viewers of thedrama were asked to identify the theme of the drama.

Tiger Time line: Tiger time line is to create an illustratedtiger history until now. The participants were given a seriesof dates that has links with tiger history and they wereasked to present the details as an illustration. All thecreative posters made in that way were pasted against awall and exhibited.

Project Tiger Map: Under the project Tiger in India morethan 27 tiger reserves have been formed that help in theconservation of the species. This exercise was tounderstand the location of existing tiger reserves in India.However, there are no tiger reserves in Bangladesh. Themap activity was modified to understand the existingNational Parks and protected areas in Bangladesh.

Feeding Ecology: Protecting the prey species of tiger iscritical for tiger survival. Feeding ecology is an activity tomake the audience understand that the health of predatorsis depending on the availability of the prey species. Theparticipants were given an example of the annualrequirement of the tigers that live in the Nagarhole NationalPark based on the actual study conducted by scientists.

Census techniques: For effective conservation steps in anational park or protected area it is essential to know thenumber of individuals in a given area. The participantswere informed about various techniques and methodsused by scientists to do censusing. The participantslearned about tiger pugmark method, counting tigers bycamera trap technology, and also the method to track tigersusing radio tracking method.

Resource round up: The resource round up is a gamedesigned to understand to dramatize the crucial linkbetween human population and species endangerment.

International Tiger Conservation Conference: This is anactivity to make the people understand the efforts neededaround the world in terms of research, habitat protection,creating awareness, and law enforcement. Theparticipants were divided into groups and asked to prioritizethe actions provided to the groups according to the needsof the subspecies in which they need to work. The groupwas asked to assign marks for each action according to theimmediate need of the species and a global tigerconservation strategy was developed.

Nagerhole Citizen debate: A hypothetical situation abouttiger human conflict was given to each working group whichthey had to enact from their own perspective as creativelyas they could. This was a very exciting session in whichparticipants of all the workshops could enjoy.

Designing an activity: This is an activity modifiedexclusively for the zoo educators. The most importantaspect of the teachers for tigers tool is its flexibility. Theactivities can be adapted to any animal and can becreatively presented to understand aspects related to theanimal. Certain topics written with tiger as theme wasselected and asked to develop an activity taking examplesof a different animal in the zoo. Participants came up withcreative education ideas.

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Pledge: At the end of the workshop all the participants wereasked to put their pledge on the pledge card supplied alongwith the registration materials. All the participants wererequested to read their pledge loudly at the time ofvaledictory function.

EvaluationThe Teachers for Tigers workshop was conductedespecially for the teachers living in and around tiger rangeareas to learn more about new teaching tools to teachabout the “The World’s Big Cat”, there by promote itsconservation.

The trainers, in order to achieve the objective of theworkshop and to help understand the concept, introducedmany teaching tools and also educated them about tigersby means of indoor and outdoor activities.

At the end of each workshop, participants were asked to fillin an evaluation form to get a feed back from them aboutthe workshop. The following questions were asked in thequestionnaire issued:- What were your two favorite activities? And why?- What were your two least favorite activities? And why?

- Please tell if this programme is relevant to your work andhow?- Will you be permitted to implement what you have learnedwhen you return to your place? If “no” what are yourobstacles?- Do you have any suggestions for future workshop?- Any other comments - (complements or criticism equallyvaluable)

The over all response of the participants showed that all ofthem enjoyed all three workshops and learned many thingsthat they can practice. Most of the participants appreciatedactivities in Unit I that has Assessment Strategies, Life of aTiger Mini-Dramas…., Tiger Ranges: Yesterday, Today andTomorrow…., From little cats to Big cats, Tiger Timeline.However, zoo personnals appreciated Unit 4 as well thathas Global Problems, Global Solutions, Subspecies GrabBag, Resource Round-up, Tiger threats Mini-Dramas,International Tiger Conservation Conference.

All the participants also expressed that the knowledgegained in the workshop can be shared or practiced in theirrespective places when they return.

List of participants of the Bangladesh TFT workshop series

Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (44)

Md. Insan Ali, Teacher, DhakaMohammad Ali, Sr. Teacher, DhakaRowshan Ara Akhter, Headmistress, DhakaBegum Anwara, Sr. Teacher, DhakaShahana Ahmed, Teacher, DhakaAmit Euranus Anjus, Teacher, DhakaRizwana Ahmed, Asst. Teacher, DhakaSurajit Baruah, Research Scholar, Assam, IndiaJoydeep Bose, Programme Officer, New Delhi, IndiaJihosuo Biswas, Field Biologist, Assam, IndiaDilip Chetry, Conservation Biologist, Assam, IndiaM.R. Deedar, Senior Teacher, DhakaSuprio Chakma, Research Assistant, DhakaEthel Das, Teacher, DhakaSk. Md. Nurul Huda, Assistant Teacher, BangladeshSikha Rani Hazra, Senior Teacher, DhakaMd. Osman Farhan Al Harun, Scholastica, DhakaRizwana Haque, Teacher, DhakaKM Zahidul Hasan, Teacher, DhakaShahadat Hossain, Teacher, DhakaShirin Hasnat Islam, Scholastica, DhakaMd. Nurul Islam, Senior Teacher, DhakaShazia Khan, Teacher, DhakaAwadhesh Kumar, WL Resr. & Guest Lect. Arunachal, IndiaMd. Abdul Mannan, Senior Teacher, DhakaS.M. Abdul Matin, Senior Teacher, DhakaShyamal Chandra Mandol, Asst. Teacher, BangladeshSangita Mitra, Sr. Project Officer, West Bengal, IndiaRekha Medhi, Lecturer, Assam, IndiaKamrun Nahar, Asst Teacher, KhulnaMary Kamrun Nahar, Lecturer, DhakaRahat Nilofer, Teacher, DhakaMahmuda Nazma, Sr. Teacher, DhakaKhandaker Shahida Parvin, Sr. Teacher, DhakaMd. Mahmudr Rahman, Teacher, Dhaka

Simelia Afroz Rumki, Teacher, DhakaMizanur Rahman, Jr. Lecturer, DhakaMd. Shamsur Rahman, Con. of Forests Wildlife & Nat.Con.Maksudur Rahman, Prgm. Co-ordinator, KhulnaRezia Quadir, Communicator, BangladeshMd. Abu Bakar Siddique, Sr. Teacher, DhakaKazi Nasrin Suravi, Asst. Teacher, BangladeshShama Shamsher (Izzat), DhakaG.S. Solanki, Sr. Lecturer, Arunachal Pradesh, India

The Sundarbans (24)

Md. Sikander Ali, Teacher, DhakaMd. Abdur Rahman Miah, Asst. Teacher, DhakaMd. Abul Khayer Mir, Asst. Headmaster, DhakaBilkis Begum, Teacher, DhakaJoydeep Barua, Scholastica, DhakaRabeya Begum, Lecturer, NarsingdiMd. Abdus Samad, Asst. Teacher, KhulanaMd. Abul Hossan, Asst. Teacher, SatkhiraDilruba Afroze, Teacher, SatkhiraArun Kumar Goswami, Teacher, BagerhatRahima Ahmed, Headmistress, DhakaMoshtaqur Rahman, Prof. DhakaSayeeda Khanam, Teacher, DhakaJannat E Ferdousi, Teacher, DhakaMohammad Yaqub, Teacher, DhakaAbdullah Al Mamun, Teacher, DhakaSarmin Sultana, Teacher, DhakaMd. Mostafizur Rahman, Prof. DhakaMohammad Ali, ACF, ChittagongP.O. Nameer, Asst. Prof. Trissur, IndiaC Srinivasulu, Research Associate Hyderabad, IndiaJ. Vasantha Sheela, Z.O.O, Coimbatore, IndiaB. Ravichandran, Z.O.O, Coimbatore, IndiaAHM Ali Reza, Lecturer, Dhaka

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Dhaka Zoo (30)Syed Ali Ahasan, Scientific Officer, DhakaMd. Waliur Rahman Akand, Zoo Officer, DhakaMd. Abul Kalam Azad, Lecturer, BangladeshNarayan Chandra Banik, Deputy Curator, DhakaKhudesta A. Begum, Upazila Livestock Officer, DhakaRanjan Kumar Biswas, Principal Scientific Officer, DhakaMd. Mongur Morshed Chowdhury, Vet.officer, ChittagongMd. Amimul Ehsan, Asst. Prof. BangladeshMd. Rayhan Faruque, Associate Prof. ChittagongMd. Shafiqul Haque, Professor, SylhetMd. Mehedi Hossain, Sr. Scientific Officer, DhakaMd. Azharul Islam, Officer In-charge, DhakaMd. Rafiqul Islam, Zoo Officer,DhakaRakibul Islam, Asst. Professor, DinajpurMohammad Abdul Kalam, Supervisor, RajshahiAbu Syed Md. Kamal, Publicity Officer, DhakaMd. Ikramuzzaman Khan, Curriculum Specialist DhakaShawkat Imam Khan, Asst.Conr.of Forest, BangladeshRatan Kumar Mondal, Zoo Officer, DhakaBequm Noorjahan, U.L.O., DhakaShimona Annoor Quazi, Lecturer DhakaMd. Golam Rabbani, Secretary, BangladeshMatiur Rahman, Vice Principal, BarisalZahed Md. Malekur Rahman, Vet. Sergeon, BangladeshMohammad Mazibur Rahman, Zoo Officer, DhakaMd. Atiar Rahman, Vet. Surgeon, DhakaMd. Hasibur Rahman, Prgm. Co-ordinator, DhakaArabinda Kumar Saha, Deputy Curator, RangpurMd. Shahiduzzaman, Upazila Livestock Officer, DhakaMd. Mahbubur Rahman Swapan, Prgm. Co-ordinator,Dhaka

Resource PersonNalini Mohan, Intl. Teacher Trainer, WCS, New York

TrainersPayal Molur, Go Wild Workshop, CoimbatoreAmit Chavan, Project Coordinator, BNHS, MumbaiGigi K Joseph, Nature Edu. Officer, PTR, ThekkadyR. Marimuthu , Education Officer, ZOO, CoimbatoreB.A. Daniel, Scientist, ZOO, Coimbatore

InternsGawsia W. Chowdhury, WTB, DhakaFarhana Ruma, WTB, Dhaka

Zoo Outreach OrganisationSally Walker, Founder/Hon. Director CoimbatoreSanjay Molur, Deputy Director, Coimbatore

Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh, DhakaEnayetullah Khan, Chairman, DhakaMd. Anwarul Islam, Chief Executive, DhakaProf. M. Harunur Rashid, Trustee, DhakaAfroza Yasmin, Programme Officer, DhakaWarda Mobassera, Research Assistant, DhakaNurul Basar Sarker, Programme Officer, DhakaMd. Shahriar Mahmud, Research Assistant, DhakaMahmudul Hassan, Research Assistant, DhakaMehrab Chowdhury, Research Assistant, DhakaIsrat Jahan, Research Assistant, Dhaka

People for PrimatesTeachers for Tigers training workshops followed theHoolock Gibbon PHVA which was reported in the last issueof ZOOS' PRINT. Field researchers for primates andothers informed that in many grant proposals they wererequired to include a significant education component inorder to get the grant for field studies. In fact this is a verygood development although not easy for field biologistsperhaps.

With that in mind, a number of the field biologists who hadattended the Hoolock Gibbon PHVA were invited to stay backand attend the first workshop of Teachers for Tigers whichwas held at Asiatic Society. There were eight participants inthis workshop who were not teachers as such but fieldresearchers learning teaching techniques which they mighteither pass on to other educators or use themselves intheir own teaching work.

A special booklet called "People for Primates" wasprepared by Education Consultant Payal B. Molur whichused some of the principal activities from the Teachers forTigers Manual and some of the material from Zoo OutreachOrganisation's Primates in Peril and Primarily Primateseducational packets. The booklet was given to the primateresearchers and also to selected participants in the 3rdsession of Teachers for Tigers, which was held at the zoo.

In the Report above one of the modules focuses on thetopic of using Teachers for Tigers exclusively for the zoo

educators. The Teachers for Tigers tools are very flexibleand can be used with a little information and imaginationfor any animal ... in the wild ... in the zoo ... wherever.

While we at ZOO and WILD certainly appreciate tigers, webelieve that the "World's greatest cat" has enough friendsand we prefer to devote our efforts to the less charismatic,neglected "minivertebrates andinvertebrates".The preparation ofthis booklet andaddition of thesethemes inTeachers forTigers for the firsttime signifies anew emphasis forTeachers forTigers workshops.In truth, theTeachers forTigers programmeshould be calledsomething like"The Tiger and hisFriends" -- world'sgreatestcooperation !