Maldhari Life

The Maldharis are the traditional pastoralist herders of the Gir forest — a people whose centuries-old way of life is woven into one of the world’s great conservation stories, for they share the forest with the last wild Asiatic lions. Living in small forest settlements called nesses, the Maldharis keep cattle and buffalo (their famous Gir cows are prized across India) and live by dairy, moving with their herds through the forest. Remarkably, they coexist with the lions — losses of livestock do occur, yet the community has historically tolerated and even revered the great cats, and this coexistence is widely credited as part of why the Asiatic lion survived in Gir alone. The Maldhari way of life — the nesses, the herds, the deep knowledge of the forest, the distinctive dress and customs — is a living culture of great interest, though one to be approached with sensitivity and respect (and through proper channels, as much of Gir is protected). For the visitor, an awareness of Maldhari life deepens any trip to the Gir country — best understood through guided, respectful experiences that honour both the people and the forest. (A living pastoral culture of the Gir forest; experience respectfully and through proper guides; much of Gir is protected.)