Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 13: The nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals have lost 12 rare indigenous species of sheep, goats, horses and dogs during the past four decades, says a recent study conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation-a frontal organisation of Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir.
The study further says that almost six of rare native species considered the most threatened in the world are also at the verge of extinction in the Himalayan belt of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and adjoining States of India.
Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary Tribal Foundation, while releasing the gist of the study for media, stated that Gujjar-Bakerwals have lost several indigenous species of goat and sheep after introduction of foreign high-yielding breeds. They have lost almost all the native species of sheep and at present they have only foreign Australian Merino species of sheep, he added.
Quoting the study Dr, Rahi said that the species, which are distinctive with nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals from times immemorial, have gradually been lost since 1968 when the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, introduced certain foreign-origin breeds in the State to get maximum yield in terms of wool, mutton and other viable benefits.
The study reveals that among the traditional species of sheep, Ghidord Phamphri, Punchi Bakerwali, Bani, and Karnahi have already become extinct while in the goat species, Gurziya, Belori, Lamdi and Goodri, have also finished.
In the horse breeds, Yarkandi (Bakerwali), Nukra and Bharssi horse species have already got finished. The study further says that in goat species, Kaghani, Lubdi and Kilan are on the verge of extinction while Jaskardi type, Kaliani and other rare species of horses are also on the verge of extinction.
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