Buffalo herders in Iraq’s marshlands rely on traditional methods to protect livestock

MAYSAN — In the heart of Iraq’s marshlands, particularly in Hor al-Hawizeh within Maysan Governorate, buffalo herders continue to use a centuries-old practice to protect their livestock from insects. As the sun sets, locals ignite fires using straw and dried buffalo dung, known as “mattal,” to create smoke that acts as a natural insect repellent, helping to ease the buffalo’s discomfort from mosquitoes and ensuring calm during the milking process.

“We usually light the fires in the late afternoon, and they burn through the night until morning,” said Murtadha Al-Sarai, a local resident of Hor al-Hawizeh, in an interview with 964media. “When the buffalo return from grazing at sunset, we light the fires to keep mosquitoes away. These insects are a huge nuisance for both the buffalo and the locals, especially in the summer and early fall.”

Al-Sarai explained that herders reignite the fires during morning milking sessions. “The buffalo won’t stay calm for milking if mosquitoes are biting them, so we refresh the fire by adding more straw to spread the smoke again. Once milking is finished, the buffalo go out to graze.”

To start the fires, herders collect straw from the barns, ignite it, and then add slow-burning dried dung to create long-lasting smoke. “Sometimes, we need to rekindle the fires during the night if they go out,” Al-Sarai added.

Environmental activist Ali Al-Masafari highlighted the importance of these fires in the absence of chemical insecticides, stating that herders depend on the smoke to ward off insects in both barns and grazing areas, particularly at night.

“For generations, buffalo herders have used these fires to keep insects away, making it a key part of their livestock-raising traditions,” Al-Masafari said. “The method has been effective in repelling mosquitoes and other pests, while also ensuring the buffalo’s health. The dried dung is shaped into discs, which are also used for cooking and heating.”

Iraq’s Mesopotamian Marshes, one of the world’s largest wetland ecosystems, lie between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and have supported marsh-dwelling communities for millennia. Known for their cultural and ecological significance, the marshes—home to wildlife and communities that rely on fishing, buffalo herding, and reed harvesting—were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016.

However, recent reports have pointed to the shrinking of these marshlands due to drying, leading to a loss of biodiversity and income for local communities, particularly fishermen.