Star Bed

A Vision of Community Conservancy

A Vision of Community Conservancy

We believe Wildlife Conservation is about striking the right balance between the interests of the animals, forests, and the local communities. It is crucial to work with these ancient tribes that have become one with the land, and have watched it change over time. However, we can still save our last remaining tigers that reside in pockets, by working with communities and empowering them with a livelihood; and they in the turn will protect the Tigers. Our Star Bed concept at Jamtara, is a unique example of this model.

We believe Wildlife Conservation is about striking the right balance between the interests of the animals, forests, and the local communities. It is crucial to work with these ancient tribes that have become one with the land, and have watched it change over time. However, we can still save our last remaining tigers that reside in pockets, by working with communities and empowering them with a livelihood; and they in the turn will protect the Tigers. Our Star Bed concept at Jamtara, is a unique example of this model.

The
Experience

The Experience

For generations, the villagers have spent their nights in the fields on machans (beds made on raised platforms), to keep a watchful eye on the animals eating their crops. We at Jamtara, wanted to take this opportunity to let our guests have this unique experience that the villagers have on a daily basis. The forest takes on a different life of its own under the night sky. Sleeping in the fields with the stars overhead and being witness to the live orchestra of Crickets, Owls, Frogs, Jackals, ceremoniously punctuated by the alarm calls of the Spotted Deer, making you aware of the predator’s presence. It is wilderness in its purest form.

For generations, the villagers have spent their nights in the fields on machans (beds made on raised platforms), to keep a watchful eye on the animals eating their crops. We at Jamtara, wanted to take this opportunity to let our guests have this unique experience that the villagers have on a daily basis. The forest takes on a different life of its own under the night sky. Sleeping in the fields with the stars overhead and being witness to the live orchestra of Crickets, Owls, Frogs, Jackals, ceremoniously punctuated by the alarm calls of the Spotted Deer, making you aware of the predator’s presence. It is wilderness in its purest form.

The Conservancy

The
Conservancy

There is a greater purpose to this experience – a vision to re-establish this corridor, and simultaneously support the local community. A quick look at the map and we can tell that the village of Jamtara, has been farmed in an eighty-acre land for well over a century. Before the settlement of the farmers in this part of India, the land was part of a continuous jungle, which is now the core and the buffer.

Empowering Communities

We aim to reclaim the eighty acres of farmland to make it a part of the forest once again. We believe we can achieve this by guaranteeing the locals a steady income through alternative jobs. Once the land is left untouched, it will organically reinstate itself into a forest, with wildlife thriving in it. The villagers can be made guardians of their own lands, where various models of tourism like the Star Bed concept, can be set up for unique and authentic wildlife experiences. We may be dreaming, but we have to try and Rewild.

Our Patron

Bittu Sehgal

My family, grandchildren and all, absolutely fell in love with the Jamtara Wilderness Camp. Kailash Sankhala, the first Director, Project Tiger, and Amit's grandfather would have been proud of him and the team he has put together. Sanctuary is working with Amit to rewild the outskirts of the Pench Tiger Reserve in ways that help ensure that local communities become the primary beneficiaries of regenerated biodiversity.

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