JAMMU: The unusually low temperatures in the hilly and mountainous tracks of north-western Himalaya have led to lakhs of Gujjars and Bakerwals - the nomadic tribes- to preponed their back journey to down and plane areas of Jammu and Kashmir , along with their livestock much earlier than usual. In a statement, the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation -a frontal organisation of Gujjars-Bakerwals - today stated that nomads- are presently under seasonal migration to hilly areas- are facing acute shortage of fodder for their cattle due to sudden fall in temperature in upper reaches .
“This is first time when the nomadic Gujjars-Bakerwals started moving towards warmer areas of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of their schedule time ' said Dr. Javaid Rahi, secretary of the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation added that they usually start their bi annual migration to warmer areas in mid October along with their cattle and sheep and live in lower areas for around six months .”
Tribal migration is an annual feature for nomads and it starts to the hilly and mountainous areas, in search of pastures, in J&K and Himachal Pradesh in March -April to spend the summer He said’. 'But this year, the Gujjars Bakerwals –the main tribal communities has started back journey from Shivalik and Pir Panjal and Zojela mountains ranges of Western Himalaya to down areas in first week of September which is quite unusual and unseen, He said,
“Because of low temperature the grass in pastures burned due cold waves as the temperature in high reaches of Kashmir valley and Pir panchal areas of Jammu region is already less the usual which compelled the nomads to move early a TRCF Secretary said. 'It is after a very long time when these nomadic tribes had preponed their seasonal migration because of abnormally temperature in September, when the minimum temperature is below normal level,' he said.
It takes 40 to 50 days for a Tribal family to migrate from hilly areas to a warmer area along with their cattle include sheep’s, goats, horses, buffalos , cows, camels and Dogs. The Gujjars and Bakerwals who form the 20 % population of State and 60% of their population is still migratory who live by cattle rearing and hence they annually migrate to climatically comfortable areas where fodder for livestock and their sustenance is easy. According to a meterological officials and experts , the decrease of temperature has been caused by the climate change.