The gregarious flowering ofbambooin theWayanad Wildlife Sanctuary(WWS) after almost a decade has opened up an unexpected Source Of Income to tribespeople providing them succour during the pandemic.
With bamboo groves in hundreds of acres of the 344 sq. km. sanctuary blooming over the last three months, tribespeople have been busy collecting and selling tonnes of bamboorice.
The gregarious flowering of bamboo is a phenomenon in which bamboo Plants in an entire area blooms simultaneously. Bamboo rice is the seed of the dying bamboo at the end of its life span spanning from around 40-60 years. Though bamboo rice has been traditionally used by tribespeople, it has, in recent years, found many takers outside the forests for its perceived Health benefits.