Amrut Singh is
the President of the Animal Rescue
Squad in Goa and has been encouraging youngsters to take the lead in protecting
the environment. Many youngsters have been motivated by his works, joining his
team as volunteers in different parts of Goa. Though mining has slowed down in
certain regions, Amrut feels that it will take a lot of time for nature to
restore itself. “The trees have grown and turned green in these regions but
everything that is green is not ok. From outside everything looks calm and
settled but the animals that used to live there have not returned to their
habitat. Some animals like wild boars and gaurs are still entering human
habitat. There is an increase in the population of crocodiles, and peacocks
because the number of their co-predators, like the monitor lizard, has reduced.
(The monitor lizard would eat the eggs of crocodiles and peahens and maintain
the eco system),” informs Amrut.
Along with this
dedicated week, Amrut feels that wildlife should be given much more importance.
“There should be more awareness in schools and colleges. On the ground level,
work is not done. The young generation should be educated about protecting and
saving wildlife. Strict laws, without any loopholes,should be in place to curb
hunting. When the accused are caught, they should be in a special forest
department jail and not the police jail,” he adds.
“The youth in Goa are
quite interested in wildlife and they have a positive approach in saving it. It
was a failure on the part of the government to plant Acacia trees in Goa. These
trees have destroyed the growth of any other valuable and fruit bearing trees.
The wildlife doesn’t benefit from them and birds don’t even build nests on
these trees. Instead of chopping down trees, the technology of tree transplant
should be brought to Goa,” he explains.
Department of Forest,
Government of Goa will be having the 66th Wildlife Week Celebrations from
October 2 to 13, 2017 with a host of events. On October 3, a village level
awareness camp will be held at Bondla, Madei, Mollem, Cotigao and Netravali. On
October 4, Quiz competitions will be held for colleges at Goa Science Centre,
Panjim and Chowgule College, Margao.
On October 5 and 6, a
full day nature camp and bird watching session will be held for college and
university students at Bondla, Mollem, Netravali and Cotigao. On October 8,
on-the-spot drawing competition for primary and middle schools will be held
simultaneously at Goa Science Centre, Panjim; Dnyanprasarak Mandal’s High
School, Mapusa; AJD Almeida High School, Ponda; Forest Training School, Valpoi;
Loyola School, Margao; Primary School ADEI office, Vasco; St Thereza High
School, Canacona; Our Lady of Mother of Poor High School, Quepem and Miracles
High School, Sanguem. On the same day, an essay writing competition in Konkani/
Marathi and English will be held for high school and higher secondary school
which will take place simultaneously at the above mentioned venues.
On
October 11, a bicycle rally for high school and higher secondary school will be
held at Bondla, Cotigao and Netravali. On October 12, Best of Waste Campaign
will be held for high School and Higher Secondary School at Bondla, Madei,
Campal and Mollem, Cotigao and Netravali. On October 13, a nature Camp
including Swachh Bharat Campaign will be held for high school and higher
secondary schools at Bondla, Mollem, Cotigao and Netravali.
