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The five-day naturalist programme takes you beyond safaris with camera traps, bird calls, muddy trails, and hands-on conservation

The forests of Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra don't slow down when it rains. If anything, the monsoon is when the jungle clocks into lush overdrive.
Making the most of the season, the tiger-rich reserve, in collaboration with the Ran Mangli Foundation, is organising a five-day training programme deep inside the forest. Called 'Naturalist in Me', the programme is open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 60. While the program runs monthly, the coming batches (June to August) are built heavily around the monsoon.
Most people notice the greenery. A naturalist, though, notices everything else. Imagine being able to identify a bird without seeing it, recognising an animal from its footprints, or naming a flowering tree on sight. That's exactly what the programme sets out to teach.
The monsoon means mushrooms sprouting overnight, muddy trails with fresh footprints, and forests echoing with frog calls. Participants get hands-on experience with conservation tools and techniques, including setting up camera traps and checking the overnight footage the next morning.
The focus is on sharpening your senses around nature: touch, smell, and sound. Birders will find plenty to love, too, while butterfly enthusiasts can spend time tracking species until they get the perfect snap. Once the sun goes down, stargazing sessions take over. And because this is an Indian forest, expect local tales and folklore to be part of the experience.
By the end of the programme, you'll have a better understanding of wildlife conservation, habitat restoration and climate mitigation, along with first-hand interactions with local forest communities.
Wildlife photographers, trekkers, students, conservationists, or complete first-timers. All you need is curiosity about forests, a genuine interest in how forest ecosystems work, and no hesitation about spending long days outdoors (yes, including night safaris).
To register:
WhatsApp: + 91 98220 56736
Email: tadobanatschool@gmail.com
Fee: ₹17,000/-
July session: 8 to 12 July
August session: 5 to 9 August
For sessions in the coming months, follow Tadoba's Instagram page. They're quick with responses.
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