India wildlife camp, Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary

We supply sustainable firewood to the village that borders the wildlife sanctuary so villagers will not have to take wood from inside the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary guards are all local villagers. We also have a cleanup program in place to keep the village and Sanctuary area clean from all plastics and glass. Our tents, furniture, and tableware are handmade from local artisans out of natural materials. Meetings with local village elders take place to ensure the protection of the Sanctuary and the needs of the villagers are met, such as how the village animals can feed in certain parts of the forest without disrupting the ecosystem but at the same time without harming the villagers own needs. After arrival during drinks the first evening guests are informed of local customs, deities and their meanings, and the history of the area and why and how it came to be protected by us.

Each tent has running water which is recycled into the Sanctuary as no harmful detergents or soaps are allowed (Soap used is made of 53 different 100% pure floral and plant essences). Sanitation is also allowed to become harmless waste over a period of time and then removed in the Sanctuary so the water can be re-used. Energy saving electricity methods are used and no direct electrical connections enter our Sanctuary. We also have a cleanup program in place to keep the village and Sanctuary area clean from all plastics and glass. A re-forestation program of our own is in place and 2000 plus indigenous trees and plants have been planted to date with more added in August 2007. We have stopped poaching completely inside our Sanctuary which is monitored by us. A water hole was created so animals have access to oxygen rich, fluoride rich, clean water throughout the year with all levels of water present so bees to leopards can drink easily. This water is flushed out and re-placed when needed and used in the re-forestation area. All fertilizer used in the re-forestation area is organic from jungle sources.

Guests will be informed of our eco-policy as well as what is allowed and not allowed to do while in the Sanctuary by personal communication when they first arrive in the Sanctuary. Guests are informed not to wear any perfume on safari as it disturbs wildlife and can cause problems with jungle bees. Guests are informed not to urinate under any circumstance in the jungle. In areas where there are considerable herds of Gazelle guests are told not to walk on the Gazelle pugmarks as when man follows a path made by a Gazelle, the Gazelles will no longer follow that path and will have to make another which disturbs their habitat.

Guests are not allowed to smoke on safari or bring any plastic, cans, glass into the sanctuary. If plastic water bottles or such are brought into the Sanctuary by a guest we ask them to ensure they take them back with them on their departure. Guests are told not to speak while observing wildlife and can speak only when told by our tracker and naturalist. Guests are told not to wander away from the group and not to touch any tree or plant species or animal nests, not to pick any wild fruit or berries or remove any fallen wood or stones. Guests are told not to wash anything out inside a jungle water system. Only ten guests are allowed to enter and stay inside the sanctuary every day. This ensures no large human activity is inside the sanctuary and also allows guests privacy during their stay.

50% of the Sanctuary is locally owned. 75% of the permanent Sanctuary staff (9 people) are locals. 2% of the profits are to be given for the costs of sustainable wood and other village needs. The costs of the re-forestation project, the clean-up projects, all staff salaries, animal studies are paid by us and no costs are incurred by villagers. 95% of all products used are sourced locally. Labour for our re-forestation project (14 people) are all locals.