Conservation Awareness Programme:
The Kanha management feels that education and awareness amongst the students living in the tiger reserve, is of utmost importance. Therefore, one of the most important goals of wildlife management in the tiger reserve is also to spread awareness about wildlife conservation in public, and also to educate the students of various middle and higher secondary schools located in the buffer zone of the tiger reserve. Besides, specially abled (visually impaired, hearing impaired) students also need to be introduced to the protected area via school and park visits both. The initiation is by means of sounds, touch and sign language in case of hearing-impaired students both through specialized teachers. The state government’s resolve to popularize tourism in Madhya Pradesh, and also the above goal has led to the concept of Nature Education and Eco-Anubhuti camps. This has been launched by the Madhya Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board, Bhopal. Besides, the Last Wilderness Foundation, a prestigious NGO is also contributing very significantly to this programme.
The students are also taken on a nature trail wherein they are made familiar with the forest ecosystem and finally games with an environment message are initiated with the students so that the message of forest protection is clear in their minds as they depart. So far, a total of 15699 students have participated in 202 nature/ anubhuti awareness camps in the tiger reserve.
Staff Health Care:
There is also a small hospital at Mukki for the treatment of the staff of Kanha and nearby villagers. The hospital is modestly equipped with necessary medical instruments and medicines. A retired senior orthopedician is in-charge of this hospital. There are also two ambulances in the core zone for taking the physician to far-off places within the tiger reserve, and also transporting patients to the Mukki hospital for treatment. The Kanha management has also organized many health camps in the villages with support from various NGOs. So far, a total 152 health camps were organized by the Kanha management for the treatment of 15765 patients.