The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary will conduct an impact study of feral cattle inside the sanctuary so as to devise a plan for their culling, if needed.
The study, to be conducted for the first time, will begin this month. The primary focus is to collect data on the feral cattle population so as to devise a plan for their culling to protect the natural wildlife, a senior official of the Forest Department told The Hindu on Monday.
Feral cattle Feral cattle are domesticated animals that were sent for grazing but made the forest their natural habitat over years of living and breeding there. Though they are considered wild animals, they are not on the scheduled list as per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary hosts one of the largest populations of feral cattle in terms of buffaloes and cows.
The sanctuary has a limited area of 105 sq km with 33 sq km covered by the reservoir area, and there are no known predators except the wild dhole. The sanctuary has a large population of wild elephants, in addition to sambar deer, barking deer, mouse deer, jungle cat, and wild dhole.
The impact study will look into how the feral cattle population negatively impacts the natural wildlife.
It is believed that the feral cattle were trapped, preventing their return, with the spread of the reservoir waters after the construction of the Idukki dam. As per data in the Management Plan, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary 2012 to 2022, a large number of feral cattle are close to the Kulamavu reservoir area of the forest. There are also chances that those sent for grazing in Valakode and other grassland areas entered the forest and lived and bred there for years.
There is no chance of cross-breeding as there are no wild animals of the same genus in the sanctuary. Like other wild animals, the feral cattle move in groups and charge at human beings or run away into the core areas.
National Wildlife Board member P.S. Easa said feral cattle could be carriers of diseases and pose a threat to the natural wildlife in a sanctuary, which is a protected area.
Their population growth could result in a competition for resources, affecting the survival of other wild animals.
