Volunteering as a conservationist isn’t a walk in the park, even though that’s literally what people do at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) when they lend a helping hand. There's a certain aptitude and specific skills that are required. And furthermore, a commitment to the cause is of paramount importance.

But in India, "Koi bhi karlega," seems to be the prevailing mindset. That’s what the folks at SGNP are trying to change with a four-day certificate course called Volunteers for Nature Programme (VFNP). Anand Pendharkar, who's designed it, tells us, "I used to work in the US at the Bronx Zoo, and they have an elaborate volunteer training course there. But here, there is somehow this attitude that a volunteer doesn’t need to be a serious person, and that he or she can come and go as they feel like. But I don’t believe that to be the case. You need a sense of discipline. And given that thought, we told ourselves, ‘Why don’t we start this course, because we are constantly in the need for trained people to assist us in various activities.”