World Nomads Film Festival

Shepherds of the Deccan

⏱️ 14 min 🌍 India 🎬 Ankit Pogula / LPPS 👥 Dhangar / Kurba Shepherds
Shepherds of the Deccan

Official Synopsis

For hundreds of years, the Dhangar nomads have kept sheep on the Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra State, India. Their biggest problem was wolves, which they also worship, knowing full well that wolves will take a few animals each year, often the weakest. Now they face a new threat: climate change, bringing extreme weather events. The film traces the path of a few migratory families and the loss they felt when several animals died during unprecedented rains. The nomads ask government to take notice of their situation and create policies to protect their sheep and their livelihoods.

Filmmaker Biography

Filmmaker(s): Ankit Pogula / LPPS

Ankit Pogula is an Indian documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Earthcare Films, dedicated to highlighting Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and community-led conservation across India.

Kulkarni, A. et al.. (2024). Mapping of the Seasonal Migration Routes of Cattle Pastoralists of the Deccan Plateau Region of India Using Ethnographic Mapping. Pastures & Pastoralism , 2 (6) , 45–58. https://doi.org/10.33002/pp0206
Read more about Dhangar / Kurba Shepherds