PANJIM, OCT 2
After repeated denials, Goa forest department chief has now said that there are enough indicators of tiger presence in the State, which were recorded during recent wildlife census.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF) Dr Shashi Kumar today agreed to the fact that there are indirect evidences of tiger presence in the State forest.
Dr Kumar was talking at the sidelines of inaugural ceremony of Wildlife Week Celebrations which began today across the state.
“The recent wildlife census has come out with some indirect evidences proving the presence of tiger in the State. Hence the possibility of tiger existence in Goa cannot be ruled out,” Dr Kumar said.
A week long animal census which was held in April, this year had shown indirect evidence of tiger presence in the State’s forest. The volunteers involved in the census had spotted tiger skates and pugmarks at three Wildlife sanctuaries- Mhadei, Cotigao and Mollem.
Apart from this, the officials from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun who visited Goa to train volunteers and departmental staff on census, had also found pugmarks similar to that of tiger during their trial in the run up for census at Mollem wildlife sanctuary.
Dr Kumar, however, said that Camera Trapping method will throw more light on this fact.
“Camera trapping methods will take the visuals of the tiger and will confirm the approximate number of tigers,” APCCF explained.
Dr Kumar’s statement comes as a rejoinder to the claims made by environmentalists about the presence of tigers in Goa.
In a recent meeting, the environmentalists held with the members of Western Ghat conservation panel, they had proposed that Goa be declared as a tiger reserve.
Earlier during the celebration, Dr Kumar said that last year the State forest department was awarded with ‘Priyadarshani Award’ by the Union Forest Ministry for good forest coverage.
“The forest cover is increasing in Goa and that is primarily because the State has a culture to preserve, protect and love trees,” he said.
The inaugural function was followed by a drawing competition for primary and secondary students.
The celebration, which will conclude on October 8, will include various programmes undertaken by the forest department. The wildlife week will include nature camp for self help groups at Cotigao, camp for students at Bondla, plastic cleanness drive, essay and drawing competitions and others.
