Minister Eshwar Khandre directs officials to ban grazing of cattle and goats in Karnataka Forests

Bengaluru

In a significant directive aimed at preserving Karnataka’s forest ecosystems, State Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has instructed top forest officials to initiate legal measures to ban grazing of livestock—such as cattle, goats, and sheep—within all forest areas in the state.

Khandre has issued instructions to the Additional Chief Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, stressing that large-scale grazing inside forests hampers natural regeneration. According to environmentalists, newly sprouted seedlings are being consumed by livestock, hindering forest growth and long-term conservation efforts.

The minister also highlighted multiple ecological consequences: the shortage of fodder for wild herbivores due to domestic animals entering forest zones, and the heightened risk of contagious diseases spreading from domestic to wild animals. Further, he noted that inadequate forest regeneration can directly affect river ecosystems flowing through these forests and escalate human-wildlife conflict.

Environmentalists have pointed to instances where herders, angered by wildlife attacks on their cattle, resort to poisoning the carcasses—leading to tragic wildlife deaths. A recent example cited was the poisoning of a tigress and her four cubs in the Hoogyam range.

Adding urgency to the matter, Khandre mentioned that following a Madras High Court verdict banning cattle grazing in Tamil Nadu forests, herders from neighboring states have begun using Karnataka’s forests for grazing, compounding the challenge.

In response, the minister has directed officials to legally enforce a ban on grazing in all forest areas and sanctuaries across Karnataka, underscoring the need to protect both wildlife and their habitats through effective regulatory action.