Publications

Birds of Sirpur

Bhalu Mondhe, Abhilash Khandekar and Kaustubh Rishi
This is a book for all nature lovers and birders. Released in October 2012, Birds of Sirpur has described 130 species of birds in great detail. All the photographs have been clicked in the Sirpur Lake and surrounding areas. The book has categorised birds into three groups – Water Birds (23 species), Wetland birds (41 species) and Tree birds (66 species). A foreword by the eminent environmentalist and urban planner Mr M N Buch adds value to the book.

Vultures of Panna

Bhalu Mondhe and Abhilash Khandekar
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan released the book Vultures of Panna on 11th August 2015. The book has been published by TNV with the support of WWF, New Delhi. The Panna Tiger Reserve had the dubious distinction of being known as the Tiger Reserve which lost all its tigers. But it is now attracting praise for having restored and achieving a healthy tiger population. Very few people know that the vanishing vulture has also found a sanctuary here. This book is a celebration of the protection that Panna has given to vultures. The book has stunning photographs clicked by Mondhe. The text by eminent journalist Abhilash Khandekar gives insight into the vulture species in India with specific reference to Panna. It has a detailed account of how the Reserve has become a home for eight species of vultures.

Patrick Geddes – Town Planning towards City Development

Realising a century old dream for a glorious future.
The TNV reproduced Sir Patrick Geddes’ first development plan of Indore was launched on 12th February 2016 by the Union Minister for Urban Development, Mr Venkaiah Naidu. Sir Patrick A Geddes (2.10.1854 – 17.4.1932) was a globally acclaimed urban planner, sociologist, botanist and educationist. He created many institutes and designed many cities around the world and India. A man of many talents, Geddes was invited by Maharaja Tukojirao III to Indore to design and plan for the evolving city of Holkars in the early 20th century, 100 years ago! TNV decided to bring back this historically important document into the public domain with the hope of shifting focus and resuming scientific debate on better urban planning practices that would make Indore a well-planned, green and beautiful city, much the city Sir Patrick Geddes had planned it to be.
Rs. 3500 (Set of 2 volumes)

On The Horizon

Nature Knowledge Centre

The construction work is under progress of a wetland Nature Knowledge Centre in the Sirpur Lake area, Indore, with the help of the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC). The upcoming Centre will be a highly advanced interpretation centre. It will provide an incredible insight into all aspects of nature, focusing on wetland ecosystem and wildlife of Central India.

Nature Knowledge Centre

The Nature Knowledge Centre will include the following:
1.A Butterfly Conservatory
2.A Biodiversity Park
3.Auditorium and amphitheatre for environment related programmes
4.Residential facilities for researchers

Save Sarus Campaign

Launching Save Sarus Campaign at Yashwant Sagar, Indore: Yashwant Sagar is another IBA in Indore’s vicinity. It was designated so because of the breeding population of the threatened Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone). The wetland is engulfed by various problems that require immediate attention.

Lesser Florican

Large scale awareness campaign for the highly endangered Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus) in the districts of Dhar, Ratlam, Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh)

Save tiger campaign

Renew the Save tiger campaign in Central India.

Migratory patterns of birds

Intensive study of migratory patterns of birds at Sirpur and other wetlands of the Malwa region

Jungle Chatter

Visits

1 2

1 January 2005

Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Sirpur Lake on 1st January 2005.

1 December 2014

Dr Archana Godbole, a Founder director of the Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) and represents it as an observer on the Forest Investment Programme (FIP) Sub-committee, visited Sirpur Lake on 1st Dec, 2014

9 May 2015

Shri Jairam Ramesh, former Minister of Environment and Forests, visited Sirpur Lake, Indore on 9th May, 2015.

25 July 2015

On 25th July, 2015, team TNV visited the Indore zoo to meet Dr Uttam Yadav and expressed its concern over the sudden death of recently born 3 tiger cubs in less than one month and requested zoo authorities to initiate adequate steps to prevent recurrence of such instances.

1 October 2015

Indore MP and Lok Sabha Speaker, Smt Sumitra Mahajan visited Sirpur Lake on Oct 1st, 2015. TNV President and Vice President and other TNV members briefed her about the proposed Nature Knowledge Centre. The construction of it was soon to start.

24 October 2015

Virginia Jealous, poet & writer from Australia visited Sirpur on 25th October, 2015. TNV members Bhalu Mondhe, Dev Kumar Vasudevan, Vijay Rangekar, OP Maheshwari and Ravi Gupta took her around. Shri Bhalu Mondhe, President TNV presented her copies of its publications “Birds of Sirpur” and “Vultures of Panna”.

22 November 2015

Shri AR Yousuf, NGT-Expert, New Delhi, visited our new IBA, Sirpur on 22nd November, 2015

Events

Birding Buddy Workshop

A workshop on "How to be a Birding Buddy" was held on 7th April 2019 at Indore. TNV Indore and Early Bird Bangalore joined together to conduct it. It started post lunch and finished by 6 pm, on that Sunday, at Govindram Seksaria Institute of Management & Research (GSIMR). The workshop was conducted by Ms Garima Bhatia and Ms Abhishekha Krisnagopal from the Early Bird team. 35 interested participants enrolled for it. Resource material like brochures and pamphlets were given out for this interactive workshop. The interaction between the speakers and the participants made it very interesting.

7th April,2019

World Environment Day 2019

TNV, like every year, celebrated the World Environment Day on 5th June 2019 at the Sirpur Lake, an Important Bird Area (IBA), continuing its endeavour to create awareness in the society towards the environment. This year, we had a bird-watching session and made seed-bags which would have saplings growing soon, for the large scale plantation drive which would be done in the weeks to follow. The chief guest Mr Jayantilal Bhandari highlighted the career opportunities in environment conservation in his speech. Mr Ambrish Kela and Swami Atmanand were the guests of honour.

5th June,2019

An evening with Dr MK Ranjitsinh

This year, on 20th March, TNV, in partnership with the Foundation of Ecological Security (FES) celebrated the International Sparrow Day with an interesting event. It was an evening with the doyen of wildlife conservationists, Dr MK Ranjitsinh, an IAS officer of the 1961 batch. In conversation with India’s top wildlife expert was Mr Abhilash Khandekar, vice president TNV and a well-known environment journalist. Dr Sinh has had an unparalleled role in India’s wildlife conservation history. He was the prime architect of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and of the Central government schemes to assist national parks and sanctuaries. Mr Bhalu Mondhe, president TNV welcomed Dr Ranjit Sinh at the outset. The tete-a-tete, held at the Hotel Palash Residency, Bhopal was a full house with nature lovers sitting in rapt attention, taking in every word. The evening wound down the memory lanes of wildlife conservation and conservation issues based on Dr Sinh’s recently published book — A Life with Wildlife.

20th March,2018

Wildlife & Environment Film Festival - II 2018

After a successful first year, TNV organised its second Wildlife and Environment film festival, in association with GSIMR, Indore. The three day event was held from 17th May to 19th May, 2018 at the GSIMR Auditorium. The theme of the film fest, this year, was Water. This year TNV initiated an environment award - `Paryavaran Prahari,’ to be awarded to someone doing outstanding work for the environment and nature in the region. This year it was awarded to the environment activist and conservationist Shri Kishore Kodwani, during this event.

17th May,2018

World Environment Day 2018

World Environment Day Function was celebrated by The Nature Volunteers at the Sirpur Lake Important Bird Area (IBA)on 5 th June 2018. All the nature lovers gathered there were taken for some bird watching along the lake. A photography competition was held and the winners were felicitated.

5th June,2018

International Tiger Day

International Tiger Day On 29th July is the International Tiger Day, observed every year since 2010 when it was first created at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit. This year, on this occasion, TNV held a film screening for the students of The Daly College, Indore. The programme, held at the Dhirubhai Ambani Auditorium in the school on 27th Aug, 2018, was attended by all the boarders and staff. The film screened was ‘The truth about Tigers’ by Shekhar Dattatreya. It was a vivid tale of a tiger from the time it was born to the day it dies. It gave insight into the life of tigers, the growing threat to their habitat and the need to protect our national animal, besides giving a lot of other vital information about it.

29th July,2018

The Return Of The Tigers In Panna – A talk

It is the National Wildlife Week every year from 2nd October to 8th October. This year, on this occasion TNV organized a talk by Mr R Sreenivasa Murthy, a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, Member Secretary/APCCF MP State Biodiversity Board. One of the leading experts on Tigers. The person who was instrumental in bringing back the tigers in the Panna Tiger Reserve. TNV wanted more and more people to know the success story of the Panna Tiger Reserve. At one time the Park was left with no Tigers at all and it was the tireless efforts of our guest speaker, Mr R Sreenivasa Murthy that Tigers were successfully re-introduced in Panna. Mr Murthy addressed a full house at the Pritamlal Dua Auditorium, Indore on 5th Oct, 2018. He spoke at length about his experiences and with special reference to Panna. He said that the conservation of tigers of Panna was mainly possible by linking tigers to the pride of the local communities. Dr Upinder Dhar, Vice Chancellor Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya, Indore was the Chief Guest.

2nd October,2018

Annual Environment Lecture V 2018

The fifth edition of the prestigious event, the Annual Environment Lecture Series was held on 22nd December 2018 at the Rajendra Mathur Auditorium, Indore Press Club, This year, Shri Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, World Wide Fund for Nature – India delivered the key note address. He spoke on – `Why Conserve Our Wetlands’. Shri Anthony de Sa, IAS (Retd), Chairman MP RERA & Adviser WWF – MP, presided over the session.

22nd December,2018

Wildlife & Environment Film Festival 2017

TNV organised its first Wildlife and Environment film festival, in association with GSIMR, Indore. The three day event was held from 13th April to 15th April, 2017 at the GSIMR Auditorium. It was a very successful event with a packed hall on all the three days.

15th April,2017

CERTIFICATE COURSE IN BASIC ORNITHOLOGY - II 2017

After the successful first year of the Basic Ornithology course, TNV and Ela Foundation, Pune, in association with GSIMR, Indore, organized this Certificate course for the second successive year from 16th November to 19th November, 2017, at the GSIMR Auditorium. Experts from the Ela Foundation, Pune conducted the course.

16th November,2017

Annual Environment Lecture IV 2017

The guest speaker for the fourth Annual Environment Lecture was Shri Saleel Tambe, renowned wildlife and nature photographer and conservationist. He is settled in London, UK. `A rendezvous with nature’ was the topic of his talk. The lecture was held on 20th December, 2017 at the Pritamlal Dua Auditorium, Indore. The District Collector Indore, Shri Nishant Warwade, IAS, presided over the function.

20th December,2017

Realising a century old dream for a glorious future

The occasion was a historic one – the launch of the reproduced Sir Patrick Geddes’ first development plan of Indore by The Nature Volunteers (TNV), Indore. The Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore was the venue on 12th February 2016. The function of the book launch was held along with the Indore Municipal Corporation’s (IMC) Smart City Event. The famous Geddes’ plan is now a 100 years old and TNV plans to use this opportunity to bring back focus on scientific urban planning and making Indore a green city. Sir Patrick A Geddes (2.10.1854 – 17.4.1932) was a globally acclaimed urban planner, sociologist, botanist and educationist. A man of many talents, Geddes was invited by Maharaja Tukojirao III to Indore to design and plan for the evolving city of Holkars in the early 20th century. The Geddes’ Master Plan was released – once again after a 100 years! The Union Minister for Urban Development, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, the Chief Guest of the function, did the honours in the presence of Indore MP and Lok Sabha Speaker, Smt Sumitra Mahajan and the Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

12th February,2016

World Environment Day 2016

A nature walk and a cleaning drive at Sirpur Lake were carried out to celebrate this year’s World Environment Day, 5th June, 2016. People from all walks of life including a large number of students and senior citizens participated. An oath to protect the environment was administered to the participants by four Padma Shri awardees of Indore – Shri Kutti Menon, Smt Janak Palta McGilligan, Shri Bhalu Mondhe and Shri Sushil Doshi. TNV, a leading environmental NGO of Indore, which was founded on June 5, 1992 by Shri Bhalu Mondhe also commenced its silver jubilee celebrations. Founding member and Vice President Abhilash Khandekar spoke on the journey so far and the vision for the future. He also complimented the IMC for preservation and improvement of Sirpur Lake and listed some suggestions. The Padma Shri awardees released an eight page TNV brochure. Distribution of cloth bags by TNV all over Indore was also commenced on the occasion. The function was conducted by Shri Sanjay Patel and the welcome songs were performed by students of Shri Gautam Kale’s Sangeet Gurukul. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dev Kumar Vasudevan, Secretary TNV.

5th June,2016

Certificate Course in Basic Ornithology - I 2016

TNV believes that there is a great need to generate awareness about environment and nature. To give an insight into the world of animals and birds – conserving them and their habitat and make more and more people aware and sensitive about co-existing with nature – its fauna and flora. In its endeavour to achieve this, TNV has been organizing many a programmes. One such was the ornithology course. From 17th Nov to 20th Nov 2016. Renowned ornithologist Dr Satish A Pande and his team of experts from the Ela Foundation, Pune - Dr Suruchi S Pande, Shri Rajkumar Pawar conducted the certificate course.

17th November,2016

Annual Environment Lecture –lll 2016

This was the third edition of the prestigious event, the Annual Environment Lecture Series held in association with GSIMR on 17th December, 2016 at the GSIMR auditorium. The guest speaker was Shri Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage Division, INTACH, New Delhi. He spoke on `Conserving our natural heritage’. Shri Abhay Bharkatia, Member, Governing Body, GSIMR, chaired the session.

17th December,2016

Annual EnvironmentLecture II 2015

The guest speaker for the second Annual Environment Lecture Series was the legendary conservationist and ornithologist, Dr Asad R Rahmani, Former Director of the Bombay Natural History Society. He spoke on ‘Conservation beyond tiger: Need to take action’. The lecture was held on 12th December, 2015 at the Pritamlal Dua Auditorium, Indore. The session was chaired by the District Collector Indore, Shri P Narahari (IAS).

12th December,2015

Annual Environment Lecture -I 2014

The inaugural lecture was delivered by Ms Archana Godbole, a leading Pune based environmentalist, who is the founder of Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), Pune, which has been working for the conservation of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot region for the last 19 years. The lecture was held at the Pritamlal Dua Auditorium on 20th December, 2014. Conservation of Western Ghats was the topic of the lecture. This is the only environment lecture series of its kind. The session was chaired by the eminent lawyer Shri Ashok Chitale.

20th December,2014

Blogs

May 25, 2016 4

Sirpur Lake and bird sanctuary – A Treasure in our neighbourhood

~Vindhyeshwari Kumari

It was a surprise, a very pleasant one indeed, when I visited Sirpur lake for the first time a couple of months ago. I have lived in Indore for more than three decades and like most residents had only heard of Sirpur Lake.

December 29, 2015

Birds of Sirpur – A Book Review

~Dev Kumar Vasudevan

This is a book which is a must have for all nature lovers and birders not only in Indore and around but for anyone who is interested in knowing about a lake which was almost given up for dead before it was revived by a group of passionate nature lovers.

January 2, 2016

The Breeding Behaviour of the Indian Grey Hornbill

~An Inside View By Ajay Gadikar

This is an article about the breeding behavior of the Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) observed at the bio-diversity park in the Residency area in Indore city.

Contact Us

head office

130, Sutar Gali, Indore, MP

field office

Bird Interpretation Center, Sirpur Lake, Dhar Road, Indore, MP

volunteersnature@gmail.com

TNV Members

The Nature Volunteers

An Informal Pressure Group of Environmentlly Restless People

About the Green Volunteers

Our Vision

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Jungle Book

Pug marks In The Media

Feathers in the TNV cap

Before

Trail From the past - Complete conservation of Sirpur Lake, Indore

After

We are busy with……

Publications

Birds of Sirpur

Bhalu Mondhe, Abhilash Khandekar and Kaustubh Rishi

Vultures of Panna

Bhalu Mondhe and Abhilash Khandekar