Cultural Reverence
Indigenous communities residing in the Western ghats are popular for the vast knowledge of medicinal plants and their properties passed over generations. This knowledge is often carried forward through storytelling and practices which are crucial for their well-being and cultural identity.
The Soligas have been living in a Wildlife Reserve in The Biligiri Hills of Karnataka among tigers and elephants for centuries now. The principles and lifestyle of this group are valuable for rethinking our conservation practices.
They live peacefully with wildlife by using traditional methods, for instance they can predict when it will rain by simply listening to the bird calls and watching their flight patterns. They can also tell how to stay safe around tigers and elephants by recognizing their behavior and sounds.
How interestingly powerful is that? And this power comes from respecting and living sustainably with Mother Nature.
They take care of the forest and reserve some resources for the animals like they don't gather all the honey because they want to leave some for the animals to consume. By respecting and worshiping plants and animals they help keep the environment balanced and healthy.
Urban dwellers like us, living at the very price of suffering nature need to take lessons from the Soligas. This will help forest managers and conservationists better understand how to protect nature while also managing conflicts between people and wildlife. Their peaceful coexistence with wildlife shows us the importance of including traditional knowledge from tribal communities in our conservation efforts.