From the archive record
Maldhari woman takes her buffaloes for grazing in Gir, Gujarat. Maldhari are devoutly religious pastoral communities which has become an integral part of the Gir forests for over 125 years. They live in settlement called ‘nesses’ inside the forests and are engaged in the occupation of cattle rearing. The Maldhari community migrated into the Gir forest despite obvious dangers and a total lack of infrastructure, in order to maintain their way of life. When the park was declared, they were allowed to remain and continue their traditional practices; in fact, Gir forest is now virtually the only area where the Maldharis still live as they wish. The local Maldhari community has lived here for generations and coexists magnifcently with the wilderness. They sustain themselves by grazing their live