Leopard safari and culture, India

Planet

At Jawai it’s a great conservation work was undertaken to promote ecotourism and safeguard the well-being of flora & fauna in this area. Fifty plus leopards can be found in Jawai Region which clearly indicated that the conservation efforts have yielded good results. It is one of the few places on earth where leopards and humans thrive in harmony. Though the leopards do kill livestock they are well tolerated by the community. But the consumption of livestock is rare as the safari destination is full of natural prey.
Conservation work not only helps to protect the wildlife but it also opens the doors for income to the local community. All the lodges have more then 80 percent of their staff from the local community

The area is inhabited by the Rabari Tribe. Every day jeeps with trained local naturalists go in the open jeeps with guests to locate leopards and other wildlife. Our prime object is to save the local environment by using the Heritage lodges which have done a wonderful job by conserving their old heritage properties.
We only use locally trained naturalist for all our safaris
Our property at Bera is a heritage property which uses only energy saving LED bulbs and fittings.
Accommodation at Bera serves Indian & local cuisine. We serve vegetarian as well as vegan food, apart from non veg. All food material is sourced locally.

People

Rabari Tribe is amazing and rewarding experience offered by the Lodge, is a visit to see the Rabari shepherds, their livestock and their unique lifestyles in the villages. Tall & proud mens are dressed in white with red turbans wearing silver ornaments, herd goats and cows to graze each day. When they return to their homes at dusk is a most magical time when the animals are bathed in golden light and the sound of cowbells fills the air. This has been described as “Gau Dhuli” or the dust of the cows – describing a time when the air is filled with the dust from the moving feet of the cattle.

But what makes Bera truly unique is that it is perhaps the only natural environment on Earth where leopards – one of India’s most feared predators – and humans have lived harmoniously for more than a century.
Our Company is very active in community initiatives and supports the local NGOs as much as the tour operator can. We share our profits with an NGO called Jagriti which is active with railways in training local children.
The community’s remarkable coexistence with leopards is down to a deep spiritual connection, the locals believe. “The Rabaris treat the beasts as their guardian angels and worship them, “When leopards kill the Rabaris’ livestock, the community doesn’t hold it against the predator.
Local Rabri Tribes are employed in Lodges and thus our lodge at Bera generates local employment the benefit of this goes to their community.