Team Herald

PANJIM: After wading through various controversies on its proposal to declare wild pigs as vermin, nearly two years ago, Forest Department has now decided that “at least at this stage”, no animal would be declared as vermin.

The increasing man-animal conflicts causing damage to crops and even to human life and consistent demands from the farmers had forced the State Wildlife Board (SWB) in 2016 to declare the wild pig as vermin animal allowing its killing in ‘certain parts of the State’ during ‘certain seasons’.

Villages in Sattari, Bicholim, Pernem, Sanguem and Canacona talukas were identified where the animals can be eliminated during the specific season. 

However, the SWB, chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (just before his illness), decided not to declare any animal as vermin for the time being. 

“The issue of vermin was discussed in the last State Wildlife Board meeting and it was decided not to go for declaring any animal as vermin for the time being,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Ajai Saxena told Herald. 

He however, did not elaborate on the reason for not going ahead with declaring the animals as nuisance.

Several groups of farmers had made representations to government proposing four animals that could be declared as vermin – wild boar, red faced monkey (Rhesus Macaque), langur monkey (Presbytis Entellus) and porcupine (Hystrix Indica). They said that all these animals are creating a nuisance and huge crop damage. Ignoring this, the government had shortlisted only the wild pig as vermin. 

A 45-year-old woman had died earlier this month reportedly after being attacked by a bison in Kankire village in Sattari taluka.