Team Herald
MARGAO: The anti-frog poaching campaign ran by the Forest Department in South Goa and especially Salcete has gained rich dividends. Till date there is not a single case of frog poaching and arrest of persons. The Conservator has given all the credit to his team and also to the media for sensitising through coverage of cases that were booked in 2017.
Every year the pre-monsoon showers come pouring and bring in a lot of cases of frog poaching in South Goa, especially in Salcete. The team of the Forest Dept, constituted especially for protection of the frogs, is on its toes for entire month of June searching for potential poaching activities in the open fields and marshy lands. In 2015 at least three cases of poaching had been detected in the first fortnight of June.
The squad of the Forest Department this time, however, was in for a surprise. Like always they combed into all the prominent areas of poaching and inquired with the persons there. However, they found fish and anything other than frogs with them. A rescue squad worker said, “When we asked them whether they were not picking frogs, they said that they have realised that the law is very strict and they understand their responsibility towards the eco-sensitivity.”
The Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Anil Shetgaonkar said that he is positive that the awareness will keep increasing and they will be able to make a safe environment for the frogs in South Goa.
“Every year in the beginning of monsoons we campaign and give notices to hotels and restaurants not to serve or encourage consumption of frog meat. The same was carried out this year.” he said.
While thanking the media for supporting the effort in frog protection DCF Shetgaonkar said “For the last 3 years we have been arresting persons found poaching frogs and producing them in court for remands, unlike earlier wherein cases were compounded and poachers were released after paying fines. The publicity to this arrest and the pictures being published on the newspapers made a huge impact in getting the much needed fear in the minds of the potential poachers,”
The Forest Department also combed this year areas like Sao Jose De Areal, Fatorda, Navelim, Gudi, Paroda and others but found persons fishing and not catching frogs.
The Department has decided to continue their campaign for protection of frogs.
Clinton Vaz, who works in several wildlife and environmental awareness campaigns and had run a “Save the Frog” campaign in the past, said “While it is impossible to stop poaching completely, I agree that poaching has reduced dramatically. We should now focus on reducing pesticides and other reasons why frog population is affected.”
Bull frogs are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 whereby catching, selling, killing of frogs or serving and eating frog meat contravenes the provisions of the Act and attracts stringent punishment of imprisonment for a period of three years and a fine of Rs 25,000 when cases are booked by the Forest Department officials.
