Field Trip to Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao-Goa

Nirmala Institute of Education, Altinho-Panjim in association with the Goa Forest Department and Arranya Environment Research Organization (an NGO) organised a field trip to Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao-Goa as part of activities to creating awareness about the Importance of Mangrove and Coastal Ecosystem in mitigation of climate change & providing livelihood opportunities to local communities.

A total of 20 students from Nirmala Institute of Education were chosen to attend this field trip. The field trip began at the Sanctuary with a briefing by a group of resource persons who guided the group throughout the session. They emphasised the significance and how mangroves are an integral part of the coastal ecosystem, how mangroves provide shelter and breeding grounds and how local communities integrated fauna and flora wealth obtained from mangroves into their livelihoods.

The trip continued with a Boat ride in two batches of students around the mangroves during which the teacher novices were taught how to observe and identify the different types of fishes, birds and insects that are indigenous to Goa's mangrove ecosystem.

The different species identified during the boat trail included Eel, Hermit crab, Mud crab, Great Egret, Collared kingfisher, Flying fox(bat), Common Red Shanks (bird), Green Pigeon, Indian Cormorants, Meck Sparrows, Sand pipers and many more. The session was accompanied by facts about these species and cues on how to identify them.

The trip ended with the members of Arranya Environment Research Organization encouraging the Nirmala Teacher novices to join in the movement for Conservation and awareness and to influence many more such likeminded people to do the same.