Scarcity forces Maldharis to leave cattle at lions' mercy

17-08-2012
Scarcity forces Maldharis to leave cattle at lions' mercy
Times of India By Vijaysinh Parmar
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-16/rajkot/33232061_1_maldharis-cattle-heads-fodder-scarcity

Maldhari from Piplava village in Khambha taluka of Amreli district Akan Mobh recently abandoned his seven cattle heads in nearby Gir forest area as he was unable to provide fodder to them. The only means of his family's livelihood will soon become prey of lions or other carnivorous wild animals.

"With no fodder available in nearby area and the inability to purchase it at a very high cost, my nephew Akan finally abandoned the animals and he is now engaged as a casual laborer in the village,'' says Akan's uncle Jasu Mobh, who resides in adjoining Mobhnesh village. Mobh's family belongs to Maldhari community that primarily depends on cattle milk as the main source of income.