Jawai Bera: Where Leopards and Humans Live Together
Bera Village in Rajasthan is a unique place where leopards and humans live peacefully together, with the locals respecting and coexisting with the big cats for generations.
In a surprising and unique story, there is a place in India where leopards and humans live peacefully together. Welcome to Bera Village, also known as Leopard Country, located in Rajasthan between Udaipur and Jodhpur. It is one of the few places in the world where leopards and humans coexist without any problems.
Bera is a beautiful village with the Aravalli Hills in the background. What makes this place special is the peaceful relationship between the villagers and the leopards. Leopards have been living here for over a thousand years, and despite having one of the highest populations of leopards in the country, they have never harmed any humans, only a few domestic animals.
The people of Bera and the leopards share a strong bond. Safari operators in the village are so confident about this peaceful relationship that they offer a full refund to tourists if they don't spot a leopard. Visitors sometimes get scared when they see leopards roaming freely around temples, but the locals are not afraid. They actually worship the leopards, seeing them as protectors.
This unique relationship exists because of the villagers' respect and acceptance of leopards. The people of Bera are part of the Rabari community, a semi-nomadic shepherding group that arrived from Iran many years ago. They follow Lord Shiva and believe that if a leopard kills their livestock, it is an offering to God. They see it as a sacrifice and respect the leopards' right to hunt.
Another reason for this peaceful coexistence is the villagers’ understanding of the leopards. They respect the big cats' space and avoid disturbing their natural way of life. They also avoid building hotels in areas where leopards live, giving them their own space.
Bera’s geography also plays an important role. The village is surrounded by rocky hills and caves, which provide the perfect hiding spots for leopards. This helps the animals stay away from direct contact with humans.
This bond is so strong that leopards never harm humans or children. Even when a leopard once grabbed a child, it let go immediately and returned to the forest. The villagers and kids here don’t fear the leopards. They know that the big cats roam freely in their village without the fear of being hunted or harmed.
Bera has become a popular tourist destination where visitors can go on daytime safaris to experience this rare and peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife. It is truly a unique place in India where leopards and humans live together in harmony.
