Stray dog attacks
on the rise in State
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In yet another canine attack, a foreigner was mauled by five dogs on the Mobor beach stretch on Tuesday, once again bringing to the fore the safety of tourists and other visitors to the beach. It is a fact that the number of stray dogs on the beaches has increased by leaps and bounds and it is scary to go for a walk on the beach alone, especially after dusk.
Be that as it may, stray dogs may attack humans due to a combination of factors including fear, hunger, protecting their territory, feeling threatened, previous negative experiences with humans and sometimes even rabies. Reducing the stray population can help mitigate the risk of dog attacks. Animal rights experts said the only long-term solution to the issue is sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs.
Over a period, as the dogs die natural deaths, their numbers dwindle. It is pertinent to note that stray dogs are significantly more likely to attack when they are in packs, as their pack mentality can trigger aggressive behavior, especially when defending territory or feeling threatened, making them a much greater danger compared to a single stray dog. Within a pack, dogs can communicate with each other easily, potentially coordinating an attack on a perceived threat. It may not be possible to free all the beaches in the state of stray dogs due to its porous nature. However, those stray dogs which move in packs need to be trapped and moved to the dog shelter.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Public drinking
is a nuisance!
A few youngsters were rounded up and taken to the police station on Tuesday afternoon for sitting at isolated places and openly consuming alcohol in the close vicinity of the ITI training school, Mapusa by the police.
Well, liquor is indeed destroying thousands of Goan families and today if our students and youngsters too are seen getting addicted towards alcohol at a very tender age then that’s due to the free availability of alcohol in the nooks and corners of the State.
Unfortunately, the government of the day, despite of knowing the seriousness of the above fact still issues licenses and allows people (especially outsiders) to set up more and more whole-sale liquor outlets every few metres in the state just for the sake of wooing domestic tourists here and keeping them in high spirits in Goa.
If the government really wants to stop people from drinking alcohol publicly and save the State’s image, then it should stop decorating the state with those whole-sale liquor outlets everywhere, especially near educational institutions, places of worship and impose hefty fines on tourists consuming alcohol at public places and on those driving their vehicles under the influence of alcohol etc.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
Leopard sterilisation: a
fine balance needed
Due to an increasing leopard population and rise of attacks on human settlements, and the resultant human–leopard conflicts, Maharashtra government has again mooted sterilisation of leopards in the state.
Predominantly, farmers have borne the brunt of leopards attacks. Maharashtra has the third highest leopard population in the country. Both male and female leopards are planned to be sterilised and the Centre’s nod is awaited. But people in the knowhow of wild life have opposed the idea.
Additional scientific research on the issue is needed, they aver. It can be said that an augmentation in the rescue efforts like providing more rescue vehicles and cages is an effective option.
Furthermore, more and more water bodies have to be provided for the leopards. Monetary support to agriculturists for fencing their fields has to be enhanced. Farmers have to be adequately supplied with electricity during day time to ward off the big cats.
Animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi has said that the need of the hour is to prevent illegal hunting of wild animals like boar which are the leopard’s prey. Since humans are encroaching into the leopard’s territory, and not the other way around, a fine balance in the issue is crucial.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Well deserved honour
for Jasprit Bumrah
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is definitely the right person to win the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC men’s Cricketer of the Year. Perseverance, hard work, consistency and the ability to improvise and exploit ones skills to reap the maximum in what one does undoubtedly makes him a modern era legend.
His accuracy, calculation, ability to perform under pressure and the precise skill to read his opponents weakness make him a master bowler from whom the younger cricketers can learn a lot.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Mandavi elevates tribe’s
cultural heritage
It is heartening to note that little known flute-maker Pandi Ram Mandavi, hailing from Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, has been chosen for the Padma Shri award this year, recognizing his exceptional craftsmanship in traditional instruments and wood art. Commendably enough Mandavi has elevated his tribe’s cultural heritage to a global audience through his intricate art form. His efforts in training over a thousand artisans and showcasing his work in numerous countries underscore his role as a cultural ambassador, contributing significantly to the preservation and promotion of Bastar region’s artistic practices. Flute is a significant wind instrument, known for producing enchanting melodies. And thanks to Pandit Ram Mandavi for taking this globally famed bamboo instrument to dizzying heights through his meticulous craftsmanship.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Bumrah deserves
all the praises
India pace sensation Bumrah has been honoured as the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024, following an extraordinary year in which he shattered records and delivered match-winning performances across the globe. By joining the elite club of Indian bowlers to have taken 70 plus wickets in a year, along side legends like Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, and Ravichandran Ashwin, Bumrah’s 2024 performance was unparalleled. His ability to succeed across conditions-spanning South Africa, Australia, and the subcontinent-highlighted his versatility and class. While Bumrah deserves all the praise he must be made the captain for the format in tests.
A P Thiruvadi, Chennai
