Jenu Kuruba Tribe

Current Context : On 8 May 2025, around 50 Jenu Kuruba families re-entered Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka to rebuild homes on their ancestral lands, evicted nearly 40 years ago under wildlife-protection policies.

About the Jenu Kuruba

• Classification: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Kodagu & Mysore districts.
• Livelihood & Culture: “Jenu” = honey; traditionally foragers and honey-collectors; semi-nomadic; reside in small hamlets (haadis).
• Belief System: Deep spiritual ties to forests and wildlife (tigers, elephants as deities) guiding sustainable resource use.
• Social Structure: Led by a Yajamana (leader) and ritual head (Gudda); self-governance on communal matters.

Significance

• Forest Rights Act (2006): Legal framework intended to restore tribal land rights; implementation delays sparked reoccupation.
• Conservation Debate: Highlights conflict between “Fortress Conservation” and Indigenous stewardship, with evidence that tribal presence can bolster biodiversity.