The Gujarat High Court has sought a response from a power distribution company, the Ahmedabad district
collector, and a residential society after 95 families of the Rajgond tribe petitioned for electricity connections
to their households.
About Gond Tribe
The Gond or Gondi (Gōndi) or Koitur are a Dravidian ethno-linguistic group and one of the largest tribal
communities in India.
According to the 2001 Census, their population was approximately 11 million.
Distribution
Gond tribes are primarily
found in: They also reside in:
- Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh
- Chhattisgarh Telangana
- Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh
- Odisha Bihar
- Karnataka
- Jharkhand
- West Bengal
- Gujarat
Major Sub-Groups
The Gond community is divided into four prominent tribes:
- Raj Gonds
- Madia Gonds
- Dhurve Gonds
- Khatulwar Gonds
Historical Background
- The Gonds settled in the Gondwana region between the 9th and 13th centuries
AD. - They ruled several parts of Central India during the 14th century.
- Prominent Gond dynasties ruled four kingdoms:
- Garha-Mandla
- Deogarh
- Chanda
- Kherla
- The Gonds resisted the Mughal and Maratha invasions and challenged the British
regime during colonial rule.
Civet
A rare civet cat—typically found in the Seshachalam forests near Tirumala—was recently spotted near
Tadepalli in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
About Civet
- Civets belong to the Viverridae family, which includes:
- Civets
- Genets
- Oyans
- Linsangs
There are around 15 to 20 species across 10 to 12 genera.
Distribution
- Civets are found in:
- Africa
- Southern Europe
- Asia
- In India, 8 species of wild civets are present, including:
- Common Palm Civet
- Small Indian Civet
The Malabar Large-Spotted Civet (Viverra civettina) is the rarest civet in India, found only in the
Western Ghats, and is classified as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List.
Physical Features
- Body Length: 40 to 85 cm
- Tail Length: 13 to 66 cm
- Weight: 1.5 to 11 kg
- Small ears and cat-like appearance
- Thickly furred tail with buff or grayish coloration marked by black spots or stripes
Habitat & Behaviour
- Civets are nocturnal and solitary animals.
- They reside in tree hollows, rock crevices, and similar places.
- They are omnivores, feeding on:
- Fruits
- Insects
- Small animals (opportunistically)
Conclusion
Civets play a vital role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds. However, habitat
destruction and poaching pose serious threats to their population, especially endemic species like the Malabar
civet. Conservation efforts are essential to protect these elusive animals.