17 hotels on Forest Dept list for selling frog meat
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 30
The forest department has enlisted 17 hotels across Goa suspected to be selling frog meat and a close watch would be kept on them.
“Last year at the beginning of the season we had issued letters to all these hotels asking them to stop selling frog meat. This year too we are sending them official letters,” a senior forest department official said.
“In the letter we clearly say that the forest department can arrest the person concerned without issuing warrant,” official added.
Initiating ‘save the frogs campaign’ in association with NGO-WildGoa, the forest department has decided to keep a strict watch on killing of frogs.
The official said that the frog meat is often sold by other name to the customers. “They never sell it openly. It is always served by different names on the menu card,” official stated.
The official confirmed that a fine of Rs 25,000 will be imposed on the person along with imprisonment for three months.
The forest department has suspected three-four major sites in the state, where poaching is done on large scale.
The official said that places like Chorao, Taleigao, areas near Goa University and Mapusa near Bodgeshwar temple are the major sites where poaching is done on large scale.
“Last year when we raided these places, not a single case of poaching was found but still here hunting of frog takes place in good numbers,” the official added.
The forest department has formed two teams attached to wildlife division while one each team from range offices would be on guard 24 hours conducting surprise raids at suspected places.
The NGO-WildGoa has said that the frog population is on decline in the state alike rest of the country.
