As number of devotees to temple festivals in MTR spikes, conservationists warn of hazards to wildlife, habitat

For a pilgrim visiting the Sri Maasi Kariya Bantan Ayyan Thiru Kovil, an Adivasi temple located deep inside crucial tiger and vulture habitats of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, the journey entails an almost hour-long journey by bus from Udhagamandalam to Vazhaithottam in the MTR buffer zone. On the importance of the region to wildlife, especially tigers, Mr. Mohanraj said that the area surrounding Maasi temple was home to a high population of tigers. “While the area hosts a large number of tigers and elephants, it should also be remembered that they are the last remaining strongholds for species that are at imminent risk of becoming locally extinct, such as the three resident species of critically endangered vultures as well as animals such as the striped hyena, which the Forest Department estimates number less than 30 individuals,” said Mr. Puyravaud. “We also conduct a clean-up after the completion of the festival,” said Mr. Bommarayan, stating that he believed it was exclusionary to stop non-Adivasis from visiting the temple. “The pressures add up, with temple festivals in Anaikatty, Siriyur, Bokkapuram and the Maasi temple attracting lakhs of devotees who have very little understanding of the ecological importance of the region,” said Mr. Puyravaud.