Tamil Nadu ban on grazing inside sanctuary threatens livelihood of Adivasis, forest inhabitants

Residents of Bargur Hills in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district continue to have their livelihoods at risk after the declaration of the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and the 2022 Madras High Court’s ban on cattle grazing in the forest areas.

Desan, 61, from the Oorali tribe, says that he has had to sell eight of his Bargur breed cows to meet his emergency needs. “If they do not allow my cattle to graze in the forests, I cannot afford to buy fodder for my cows,” he adds. “I will be forced to sell off whatever few cows I have left.”

Grazing cattle has traditionally been a major source of livelihood, particularly for forest dwelling communities. In March 2022, the Madras High Court banned domesticated cattle from grazing in forest areas in response to a July 2020 public interest petition filed by G Thirumurugan, a conservationist.

He had only sought a ban on grazing in the Meghamalai Wildlife Division and Sanctuary, a part of the Srivilliputhur-Meghamalai Tiger Reserve, alleging the risk of transmission of diseases from domesticated cattle to wildlife, and destruction of grasslands.

However, the court later extended the ban to the entire 22,877 square kilometres of forest area in the state. This was done under the...

Read more