Context:
According to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Muthuvan tribe will be part of Nilgiri Tahr conservation project.
Relevance:
GS II: Vulnerable Sections
Dimensions of the Article:
- The Muthuvan Tribe
- Project Tahr
The Muthuvan Tribe:
- Habitat: Reside in the border hill forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- Dialects: Speak different dialects known as Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan.
- Religion: Practice animism and spirit worship, along with reverence for forest deities.
- Ancestral Beliefs: Believe that their forebears were the first inhabitants of the hill forests.
- Wildlife Coexistence: Known for their harmonious coexistence with wildlife, thanks to traditional knowledge.
- Kani System: Govern themselves using a unique system where a ‘Kani’ leads each village.
- Traditional Medicine: Proficient in traditional medicine, which is highly effective and passed down through generations.
- Occupation: Primarily engage in agriculture, cultivating products like ragi, cardamom, and lemongrass.
Project Tahr:
- Objective: The Tamil Nadu government aims to gain a better understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through surveys and radio telemetry studies.
- Reintroduction: Plan to reintroduce Tahrs to their historical habitat.
- Threat Mitigation: Address immediate threats to their population.
- Awareness: Raise public awareness about this species.
- Duration: The project is set to run for a five-year period from 2022 to 2027.
-Source: The Hindu
