Herders fined ₹10 lakh for grazing sheep in Kawal Tiger Reserve

The Forest Department has imposed a compounding fine of ₹10 lakh on two groups of sheep herders from Gujarat for letting around 600 migratory herds of sheep to illegally graze in the Kawal Tiger Reserve, damaging a large tract of plantation in the reserve forest area in Utnoor division of Adilabad district.

Acting on specific information from the local villagers about illegal sheep grazing by some non-locals, a team of forest officials rushed to the site and found a group of sheep herders using the plantation area for settling, grazing and lopping. A detailed investigation revealed that the sheep herders from Gujarat’s Kutch region had been staying in the forest area for the past few days with a large number of sheep and five camels, according to forest officials.

It was found that the 70-hectare plantation taken up in the Sirchelma section had been badly damaged. Grassland developed to increase the herbivorous population and prey base for tigers was also found to be damaged. A herd of 600 goats was driven away from the forest area by the staff to avoid further damage to the forest.

Jadhav Karan Singh and Jadhav Rama, both from Gujarat, were arrested with their separate herds of sheep. A total of ₹10 lakh (₹5 lakh each) was collected as compounding fees.

In a statement, Adilabad District Forest Officer Prashanth Bajirao Patil said illegal grazing of goats and sheep, and lopping, is a punishable offence under the Forest Act with three years of punishment. To report any incident of illegal sheep grazing or any forest offence, contact toll free number 1926, 8004255364.