“I am yet to receive the assessment report from the Forest Department. The department has undertaking assessment of animals involved in damaging agricultural crops and properties,” Arlekar told media persons on the sidelines of a three-day ‘Wildlife Week Celebration’ organised by Institute Menezes Braganza (IMB).
Arlekar said that the department may place the report directly before the State Wildlife Board for discussion, which will hold its meeting post the BRICS summit. “The Board has to give its approval before sending it to the National Wildlife Board (NWB),” he said. NWB will be the final authority to decide and declare vermin animals.
As reported earlier, wild boars and monkeys are in the potential list of vermin animal. The government was caught in controversy after one of its ministers stated that the National bird peacock and State animal bison should be declared as nuisance. However, the Forest department had clarified that both animals are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Several groups of farmers had made representations to the government proposing that wild boar, red faced monkey, langur monkey and porcupine be declared as vermin. They said that these animals are creating a nuisance and damaging crops.
