Parental Consent / Responsibility Waiver form
Should be signed by parents/guardians of undergraduate students or
by post-graduate students themselves.
Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most diverse places on Earth. It hosts two-thirds of India's biological diversity, and ranks in the top five among global biodiversity hotspots. It is the best place in India to study issues related to the origin and sustenance of biological diversity.
Most of my ecological research focuses on Arunachal Pradesh, largely though not exclusively in and around Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary. Eaglenest has been my project site since 2003. Apart from ecological research I have been involved in helping the Bugun tribe to run an ecotourism venture for national and international wildlife tourists, as a financial incentive to the Buguns to contribute to the conservation of Eaglenest. About 200 tourists visit the area every year, mostly during December and March-April.
My students have been visiting the area since 2004. An IISER Pune student group visit is becoming a regular annual fixture since 2009. 21 IISER-Pune students visited the area during May-June 2012, 13 in 2011, and 5 students before that in 2009 and 2010. The students live in the same campsites that host regular touists during the other months. Students typically study a diverse assemblage of fauna ranging from birds to frogs, spiders, moths and ants during thir visit.
The area has hosted more than 1500 visitors since my project started in 2003. None of our tourist or research groups have had any safety issues. Nevertheless, the area is a remote wilderness with no facilities to handle emergencies of any kind ... part of its allure for tourists and scientists alike. Things can go wrong despite the best of efforts.
Therefore, participants and their parents/guardians should read the consent document carefully before deciding to participate in the field research programme.
| Adequate rain gear | Powerful LED torch (for herp work) |
| Comfortable hiking shoes, preferably waterproof | torch for campsite |
| Light woolens, and a heavy jacket with hood | Adequate supply of batteries for torches |
| Full-sleeved field shirt (at least 3) | Penknife for camping |
| Full-legged field trousers (at least 2) | --- |
| Leech Socks | Sun hat |
| Wicket-keeper inner gloves | UV shading sun glasses |
| Sleeping bag to handle 5deg temperature | Column2 |
| Thin fleece blanket if sleeping bag not adequate | UV shading sun glasses |
| Column1 | Column2 |
All research activities will be carried out under the research permit issued to be by the Forest Department, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh. The collection of any material from the forest must only be undertaken after receiving my explicit permission for the same
All visitors to Arunachal Pradesh, including Indians, need to obtain the
Inner Line Permit (ILP). I will obtain the same for the group. For this, every
participant has to send the following:
28 February 2013, Ramana Athreya