PANJIM: The Save Mhadei Save Tiger on Saturday alleged that the main reason of the State government opposing the Tiger Reserve was to resume mining activity inside the forested areas and that the tigers from the forest of neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka would come to Goa for food was indeed unrealistic.
The NGO’s convenor Rajan Ghate said that in 2013, the first picture taken through the camera traps technique of the tigress relishing on the wild boar, had established the existence of the big cats and this was subsequently confirmed again by the team of the researchers headed by Dr Ullas Karanth, who said that the tigress trapped in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary was indeed unique and not recorded in the all India database of tigers across the country. The recent status of India’s tiger report released by the Prime Minister reaffirmed the truth, he said urging the State government to read these significant findings and stop denying the reality.
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Ghate alleged that from 2009 to 2019, the State government had miserably failed in protecting the tiger population and natural habitat, only to safeguard malafide vested interests. Goa’s forest from the hoary past has been the breeding ground for the big cats.
Ghate demanded that at least 500 sq km that have been already notified through subsequent notifications as either Wildlife Sanctuaries or National Park be declared as the core areas and rest areas as the buffer zone.
As the proposed Mhadei Tiger Reserve will consist of only the reserve forest areas that have been notified earlier, it will not affect areas that are under human settlements, agriculture and horticulture. Throughout Goa’s forested areas, if any family has been residing, there are already guidelines set, which have been issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
According to Ghate, not more than 50 families need to be rehabilitated from the proposed core areas of the Tiger Reserve and whatever claims made under the guise of protecting interest of the local communities, doesn’t stand. He charged that in the name of local communities, some greedy politicians are interested in resuming mining activities inside the forested areas.
Ghate alleged that the State government had miserably failed in safeguarding the natural habitat of the big cats and other wildlife and this had intensified the man-animal conflict. The claim of the government that tigers from the forests of Maharashtra and Karnataka are coming to Goa for food is indeed unrealistic and lacks seriousness. It does not have any background of strong scientific validation, he said.
