16 Dec, 2007

THEKKADY (KERALA): They are housewives from poor backgrounds with no formal education, but they are women on a mission -- to protect the fringe areas of Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Thekkady in Kerala.

The all women forest protection team called 'Vasanta Sena' has been patrolling the PTR since the past five years and has made the area almost poacher free, says Padma Mohanti, Deputy Director, PTR.

"Protecting the trees is protecting the forests. If there are no trees, the forest will vanish and eventually we too will disappear," the sena members, who are tribals and non tribals and charge nothing for their services...

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