Common tribal communities of Similipal biosphere reserve

Sanjeet Kumar

sanjeet.biotech@gamil.com

Similipal Biosphere Reserve is covered with dense forest. Its frosted field tracks are the homeland of tribal communities. The tribes present in and around SBR are HO, Kolho, Santhal, Bathudi, Bhumijo, Mahali ,Saunti, Munda, Gond, Huria, Bhuiyan etc. Among the tribal groups, Hill-Kharia and Mankirdias are considered as the primitive tribal groups (PTGs). In SBR, there are about 61 villages present inside the buffer zones and about 1200 villages inside the peripheral zone. The forest loving tribal communities have maintained their primitive culture, traditional skills and rituals. The main occupations of the tribal groups are hunting and traditional farming along with collection of forest products.

Rice, maize and millets are the main cultivation of tribal communities of SBR. In addition to, they also grow vegetables such as pumpkin, brinjal, pea, onion etc. Rice is the principal food among them. Besides vegetables they also eat fish, red ant, termites, crabs, meat of different birds and animals. Apart from their main occupation, they used to collect different forest products as honey, sal resins, arrowroot etc. along with wild medicinal plants as per their requirement. They also collect the wild cucurbits as optional food and traditional medicines.