WPSI has been implementing a successful conservation awareness campaign in the fringe villages around tiger reserves in Central India. The villagers in these areas now eagerly look forward to visits from the ‘Bondomobile’ - the WPSI tiger conservation awareness van - that travels in these remote areas, spreading the message of conservation through film screenings and public discussions.

Funded by The American Himalayan Foundation and The Fund for the Tiger this campaign was launched in April 2011. The project uses an audio-visual van, painted with a band of tiger stripes, that is systematically taken to all the villages fringing a tiger reserve to screen a local language version of a film called 'The Truth About Tigers'. Most of these areas have no access to electricity and the van's equipment, speakers and lights are powered by rechargeable batteries. The WPSI team is often accompanied by forest officers and meaningful discussions are held with the villagers to find solutions for many of their grievances.

The aim of this project is to reduce the antagonism between local people and the Forest Department, and also to inform the villagers of government projects that they could benefit from, such as compensation and employment schemes. Lists of genuine complaints are also handed over to the Forest Department. The programme has been very successful at reducing corruption, speeding up compensation claims, and receiving poaching information.

Positive results from activities carried out in the year are already tangible. Apart from creating large scale awareness in 69 fringe villages around Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, the campaign has helped address some serious and deep-rooted issues. In addition, it has helped spread awareness about WPSI’s Secret Information Reward Scheme to over 15,000 people in these villages. The programme is now being implemented around Kanha Tiger Reserve.