Tiger reserve gets fresh boost with sightings of big cat

SHWETA KAMAT

shweta@herald-goa.com

PANIM: With the latest sightings of tigers in the protected areas of Mhadei and Mollem, the State Forest Department has decided to draft a fresh proposal to declare certain core pockets of the Western Ghat region, as a Tiger Reserve. The camera trapping of the big cat in the areas of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and Bhagwan Mahaveer National Park, has given clear indications that the forest cover in Goa is home to the tiger.

The department has conducted a socio-economic study along the Western Ghat region with focus areas being Mhadei, Mollem, Netravali and Cotigao protected areas. The State will also go for rehabilitation of the settlers once the areas are declared as tiger reserves, provided they volunteer for rehabilitation

Speaking to Herald, a senior forest official said that the recent tiger sighting has further confirmed that Goa is a tiger range State, where tigers are found but it does not have any tiger reserves declared at this point of time. “During the last tiger census 2013, there was no direct evidence with us, but in 2016, 2017 and 2018 the camera trap helped us to get direct sightings,” official said.

The official said there are frequent tiger sightings along the Goa-Maharashtra boarder areas like Chorla Ghat. “Tiger density in tropical forest is inherently low. But still, we are sure there is the possible presence of the wild cat in areas like Mollem, Netravali, Mhadei and Cotigao,” he said.

The official said the proposal to declare these areas as a tiger reserve was placed before State Wildlife Board under then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in December 2017. “The same was kept on hold, pending the All India Tiger Census, which was due in April, 2018. The Census helped us to further ascertain the presence of tiger,” the official said adding, “No development took place later owing to ill health of the former CM. We would now draft a fresh proposal with all the latest inputs and place it before the Board.”

Once the Board approves, the proposal will be forwarded to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for final approval and funding. NTCA had mooted a proposal dated March 13, 2016 for constitution of Tiger Reserve in Goa, after the results of All India Tiger Estimation, 2014.

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said that ‘the presence of tiger in Mhadei region is a well established fact, but in Mollem it came as a surprise. “This was the reason why we have been consistently demanding that the Western Ghat region of the State be declared as tiger reserve,” he said. 

Raising concerns over the threat of poaching of the big cat, Kerkar said that Forest department has to maintain vigil in the protected areas and there is need of more staff.