Kani Tribe

Kuttimathan Kani, a tribal elder from Chonampara settlement in Agasthyavanam (forest) in Kottoor (Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala), who was part of the group that introduced the rare medicinal plant ‘Arogyapacha’ (Trichopus zeylanic) to the outside world, passed way.

• The Kani tribals or Kanikarars are a traditionally nomadic community, who now lead a settled life in the forests of the Agasthyamalai hills of the Western Ghats.
• Every Kanikkarar settlement has a community council for maintaining social control.
• It consists of the Moottukani (chief), the Vilikani (convenor) and the Pilathi (physician and priest). All these offices are hereditary.
• Traditionally the Moottukani combined the ....