Role Of Bishnoi’s In Wildlife And Environment Conservation

Who doesn’t know the Wildlife Conservation By Bishnoi’s. Few days back, when I was reading an article on Bishnoi community, I wanted to know more. Hat’s off to this community for their contribution towards environment. Conserving trees and wild animals is the only religion what they know. They deserve to be called as the protector of wildlife and environment. Not only men, women, children and old people also have the same commitment towards environment protection.

Who are Bishnois?

If you go to the western parts of Rajasthan, you can meet this tribal community.

They are also known as Vishnoi, a Hindu religious sect.

However, some of the Bishnois can also be seen in the Northern states of India.

They are the followers of Guru Jambeshwar and follow a set of 29 principles given by their Guru in 1485.

Therefore, they are also known to be Jambeshwarpanthi .

They live in extremely harsh conditions in the Thar desert region.

How do they conserve animals:

The Bishnois remain alert throughout the day.

They neither harm the trees or animals nor allow others to do so.

Moreover, every member of the community is actively involved in keeping vigil over poaching of wild animals and rescuing injured animals.

They also extend their full support to the government’s forest department in conservation.  मेघालय : रैट होल माइनिंग

Bishnois are doing this work from past 400 years.

If you visit a village called Khejarli (near Jodhpur), people with pride will narrate you about the Bishnoi movement.

Bishnoi Movement: Wildlife Conservation By Bishnoi’s

The story goes like this.

400 years ago, there was a sage known as Sombaji who started the movement of protecting trees in Rajasthan.

Because of this, a large number of trees are still worshipped by the devotees.

People stand together against cutting of trees.

Sombaji said, hug the trees and don’t let anyone cut it.

Even today, this teaching is followed by the Bishnoi community in letter and spirit.

It was first of its kind of hugging the trees for their protection.

Therefore, the story and the sacrifice made by Amrita Devi and many more villagers will make you stunned.

The story of Bishnoi Amrita Devi:

Amrita Devi was a Bishnoi courageous women who alone stood against the king’s force protesting against cutting of trees.

King’s men were attempting to cut green trees which was prohibited in Bishnoi religion.

Moreover, the king’s men were ready to bribe her to spare the green trees.

She refused to acknowledge this demand and said this is an insult to her religious faith.

It is at that stage she spoke these words: “Sar sāntey rūkh rahe to bhī sasto jān” (सर सान्टे रूख रहे तो भी सस्तो जाण)

Meaning: If a tree is saved even at the cost of one’s head, it’s worth it.

Saying these words, she offered her head!

The axes, which were brought to cut the trees, severed her head from her trunk.

Not only that, the three young girls (daughters of Amrita Devi)  Asu, Ratni and Bhagu without hesitation offered their heads too.

Seeing this, 363 more Bishnoi women reached there, hugged the trees in protection and were brutally killed.

This type of commitment is shown by the Bishnoi community.

Committed towards environment:

Conserving environment is the Bishnoi way of life.

Even today, for women, the day begins with putting out a bowl of food for the birds and animals.

Moreover, Bishnoi women have been known to nurse orphaned fawns like their own children.

Chef Khanna writes on Twitter and Instagram that “the woman, a member of the Bishnoi community,

told him she had similarly breastfed and saved many orphaned and injured baby deer“.

The men also risk their life fighting with poachers to conserve animals in Forest .

Using education in their fight:

After the Salman Khan’s poaching case in 1998, the community decided to fight their case themselves.

Therefore, one child from every family started reading law.

After education, they are now aware of their rights and duties.

For this very noble cause, today they use their education sometimes even to fight against the government.

Protecting animals from tourists, poachers and hunters: Wildlife Conservation By Bishnoi’s

Bishnoi’s love for animals/

During winter season many tourists visit Jodhpur.

Along with the tourists, many people with ill intentions try to hunt the animals for the sake of money.

The Bishnois consider Black Buck and Chinkaras as sacred animals.

They are ready to sacrifice their life in their conservation.

Moreover, conservation of these rare animals also comes under wildlife protection act 1972.

Rescue centers

Keeping the law and order aside, the Bishnoi community has also played an active role in the setting up of rescue centers.

Moreover, these rescue centers are mainly for injured animals in villages.

Other than this, they have also collected money and donated a vehicle to Jodhpur’s “ Machia_Biological_Park Rescue and Rehabilitation

Centre“. The purpose was to bring in rescued animals swiftly and safely.