PANJIM: Taking into consideration the large-scale losses to farmers caused by wild boars, Conservator of Forest, Santosh Kumar has issued an order allowing hunting wild boar after permission from the Forest Department. The order further states that killing of wild boars would be allowed with conditional permission from the Deputy Conservator of Forests.
As per the notification, permission will be granted to hunt wild pigs which have become dangerous to human life and property including damage to agriculture/horticulture crops on private cultivated lands only and not in any protected areas, reserve and unclassed forests.
A written complaint has to be filed indicating the reasons sought for seeking the permission. The Forest Department’s official, along with the local panchayat, will visit the site for investigation, assess the situation and draw a panchanama. Only if the situation warrants removal of the wild pigs, then a recommendation will be given to the wild life warden by the Range Forest Officer (RFO). Furthermore, permission will be accorded based on the merit of the case in favour of a person having a rifle with a valid licence. The permission accorded will be for a specific period, site-specific and will be non-transferable.
No permission will be granted to hunt wild pigs in any protected area or government forest area. The permission shall be issued only on private cultivated lands. No permission will be granted for removal of squeaker and juvenile.
Applicants shall utilise the services of shooters have a license for possession of a firearm and who should be identified as an expert shooter and own a powerful firearm capable of clean removal of wild pigs. No other means of culling, such as traps or poison, would be allowed.
“While removal of wild pig/s for which permission has been granted by the wildlife warden, care should be taken that no other animal, human beings are killed or injured and no property is destroyed or damaged. The responsibilities for casualties/fatalities and loss to human or property caused knowingly or unknowingly during the process of removal of wild pigs shall only be on the person/persons who is/are authorized for culling the wild pig/s. The Forest Department shall not be responsible for any such act/incidence,” the notification added. An undertaking in this regard has to be given by the applicant.
The carcass of wild pig removed will be government property, and be disposed of as per legal procedure. No part of the removed wild animal like meat, skin, tushes, trophy etc will be consumed, possessed or displayed by any person. In case of any violation, penal action as per relevant provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 will be initiated. The authorized officer may cancel the permit at any time if a permit holder violates the rules.
