Traditional knowledge
We live in the midst of forest which is in Western Ghats at an elevation of about 10001100 metres above mean sea level. We developed knowledge about plant species which
are useful for treating humans as well as animals. Many old Lingayat families are still
practicing ethno-veterinary medicine to all animal diseases including black quarter. We
developed criteria for selecting good animals for breeding purposes based on traits
essential for raising true-to-type animals. We administer medicines only during Sundays
as ‘sun’ sign is auspicious to us.
We conserve and use Bargur Forest’s biodiversity
We are integral part of Bargur Forest ecosystem. We therefore protect forests from fire
and help protecting wildlife. Earlier, Mr. Veerappan who was a forest brigand in that
forest was hunting male elephants (for ivory) and smuggling sandalwood from the
forests. Enormous forest resources were depleted by him. But we contribute towards
conservation of wildlife. Special Task Force prevented us from entering into the forest
and prohibited animal grazing due to the unfounded suspicions that were acting as
messengers for his gang. Now even after killing him, the restriction to enter into forest
along with animals is not fully removed especially in the fringe areas of forests.
There were many hundreds of cattle herds and they provided manure useful for
agricultural land as well as to the forest. The young ones are some times preyed upon by
panthers and other predators and therefore occasional casualties of calves is not at all
loss to the herder but it is providing food for wild animals during critical times. In a herd
of 50 animals there will be loss of 4 animals (annually). In the absence of forest grazing
such predators will visit our habitats and even attack humans and our properties. Wild
elephants visit our agricultural land during summer and they depend upon our water
resources created in human settlement. But during their visit to our fields they damage
our crops and properties. Too much of elephant population is also posing nuisance both
to forest and human settlement. The wild animals damage solar powered electric fencing
and also damage the newly planted seedlings such as bamboos.
Without understanding intricacies of elephant-domestic animal grazing–agro- ecosystem
the Forest Department is interested in completing target area tree planting programme
leading to loss of money and efforts. They are not consulting our communities to use the
traditional wisdom or innovations from grassroots.
Forest Department officials put electric wire fencing on village border to prevent
elephant passage to village agricultural land. This approach is working initially and it is
not a long term strategy. The damaged fencing is giving way for elephants to freely enter
villages or agricultural land. Forest officials never allow rotational grazing system for
traditional forest graziers but close the forests in full length and once closed (in the name
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