Even as conflicts between human beings and gaur in the Nilgiris continue to take a heavy toll on both sides, tea estate workers near Pandian Park in Kotagiri have found a way to co-exist with the powerful, temperamental animals.
Every day, more than 15 women collect tea leaves just a few feet away from a herd of more than 20 gaurs, which seem more than willing to share their space with the women.
The workers go about their everyday routine with very little concern about the gaur.
K. Kamala, a tea estate worker who has been living in the area for over two decades, told The Hindu that the co-existence between the workers and the gaur evolved over time, with both sides learning the behaviour of the other and understanding that they do not pose a threat to each other.
“The animals in this herd are between seven and 15 years old, and we know almost each member of the herd individually,” said Kamala, stating that the workers know which of the animals in the herd were more aggressive than the rest.
“We look out for any signs of distress from the herd, and during those times, steer well clear of them,” said R. Priya, another worker. “Till date, we have not had a single instance of people being injured, or even charged at by the herd,” she said.
Forest Department officials who routinely track the herd said that this particular herd was less aggressive and territorial when compared to herds of similar size and composition elsewhere. They believe that as the herd lived in close proximity to human settlements, they were more tolerant towards people and showed less aggression, even when people got very close to them.
