On Saturday and Sunday afternoon it is quite a common sight for locals of the village of Chirkanali, Curtorim to spot wild life hunters roaming on their bikes with guns. One of the locals from the village says, “We have been observing that these hunters come on their bikes with guns on weekends and shoot birds like peacocks. Not only that, they also hunt rabbits, frogs, wild boars, etc.”
Citing an example of the cruel act these hunters commit, he says, “They use wire traps to catch animals and shoot birds. Another heinous act being carried out is when they feed wild boars explosive bombs so that it explodes and takes the animal’s head off.”
“Locals here live in double thought as to whether they should report the matter to the forest department or not. When they think of co-operating with them, they bump into a few good officials while others are rude, which is why they prefer to remain silent. Those who hunt these animals have their setting with the higher ups,” says the villager.
Recently, two were held for frog poaching by the Margao deputy conservator of forests through the range forest officers at different places with frogs in Salcete during night patrolling. Frogs lie in hibernation beneath the soil almost throughout the year, until they receive the signal of the first heavy monsoon showers. Unfortunately, this is also a signal for frog catchers, who scour paddy fields and frog habitats, to sell their legs as ‘jumping chicken’. Catching, killing and selling frogs or serving frog meat in restaurants are against the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and attract stringent punishment, ranging from imprisonment for a maximum of three years to a fine of up to Rs 25,000 or both.
Animal conservationist, Clinton Vaz who has been at the forefront of the ‘Save the Frog’ campaign for years now, says, “Consuming of jumping chicken is injurious to health. Massive toxic recalcitrant residues from agrochemicals biomagnified in the food chain get accumulated in fat deposits of frogs. Continuous consumption of frogs could trigger paralytic strokes, and nerve disorders.”
Conservator, eco-tourism and wildlife, D N Carvalho informs, “There is regular patrolling conducted by a team to prevent the hunting of wild animals and selling of meat in restaurants.”
“For us, it becomes difficult to identify the areas animals can be spotted as they sometimes invade a human habitat. However, as per wildlife protection act these hunters are penalized,” says Carvalho. “These villagers should not kill wild boars as they graze in their fields and ward off other animals which encroach their areas. They should remain calm and let these animals be free as the damage caused to villagers by wild animals is later being compensated by the government.”
