The Romp at Work - Conservation through Behaviour Change

 Well, here is what we do (no, not for a living - that is a different, slightly embarrassing subject.)

We have two active otter conservation sites, one in the Thirunelly panchayat of Wayanad and the other in south Coorg.

Our primary project is in south Coorg, along the Brahmagiris, a sacred hill range of astonishing biodiversity and antiquity, where we work with some fine people there - truly exceptional folk -  to conserve the habitat of the Small Clawed Otter and the species itself.  This is a long term project that involves the active support of local stakeholders, in partnership with whom we hope to ensure the integrity of streams and rewild some.  We are proud to be part of Rewilding, a global alliance of organisations committed to habitat conservation.

The project is called The Koilemeen Project, after a little fish (a loach) that is found in the paddies during and after the harvest and is a local delicacy.  It helps that it is the prey of the small clawed otter!

There are 3 questions in conservation that excite us:

Question 1: Can we use a community's feeling of ownership and pride to save a species? (Answer: Yes!).  We call it the Garv initiative.
ps: Garv is the Sanskrit equivalent of Pride.  

So, you are now asking, have we been successful (Answer: Do contact us in 2025 and we will let you know of the year by which we will have an answer....in short, we have figured it out and are getting there, but it takes time).  If a community comes on board, this is long term, sustainable change for the better.

Question 2: But, small clawed otters?  They eat fish and crabs, right?  Can we use Garv to save them from fishers? (Answer: We think so. Lots of similar stories from elsewhere that are inspiring stories of patience and engagement).

Question 3: So, do emotions work in conservation? 

Answer (without brackets): Only emotions work in conservation, outside the Protected Areas.  When people see an animal as anthropomorphic, or beautiful or noble or rare, they are moved to act to conserve, after their reservations and concerns are addressed with empathy and compassion.  

We have used (in rapidly descending order)

- street theatre

-puppetry

-comics

-films

- even, face masks

in the fun process of engaging with communities that live alongside our otters.  It is creative and gentle, with positive energy and hope.  And, that, in a nutshell, is why we get excited!

.....An offer of help: If you work along a stream or river where there are otters in trouble - say, because they are hunted or caught in nets  - and you would like to do something different, something long term, to secure their future and engage the community, contact us.  Right away.  At gopakumar.nityata@gmail.com .

If you are otterly bewitched now and curious to know more, get in touch.  We love company.