KERI: Once considered an essential part of the food chain, as it kept herbivores out of locals' fields and plantations, the tiger, since the last decade, is not faring too well in Goa, say wildlife enthusiasts.
"Deforestation and even poaching are on the rise. The forest department too is not sincere or serious about protecting the tiger's habitat," says wildlife activist Ramesh Zarmekar. Hailing from Surla in Sattari taluka, his village lies at the highest point of Goa, in the lap of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
In 1993, the forest department's wildlife census recorded the presence of three tigers in Goa. This grew to five in 1997. By 2002, there were four big cats in the wildlife division and one in the north division. The census report for 2010 is yet to be declared.
KERI: Once considered an essential part of the food chain, as it kept herbivores out of locals' fields and plantations, the tiger, since the last decade, is not faring too well in Goa, say wildlife enthusiasts.
"Deforestation and even poaching are on the rise. The forest department too is not sincere or serious about protecting the tiger's habitat," says wildlife activist Ramesh Zarmekar. Hailing from Surla in Sattari taluka, his village lies at the highest point of Goa, in the lap of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
In 1993, the forest department's wildlife census recorded the presence of three tigers in Goa. This grew to five in 1997. By 2002, there were four big cats in the wildlife division and one in the north division. The census report for 2010 is yet to be declared.
Deputy conservator of forests Debendra Dalai says, "The wildlife census of 2005 recorded the presence of five tigers in Goa's forests."
A forest official from Sattari, on condition of anonymity, adds, "The presence of three tigers has been confirmed in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary."
Vagheri,the third highest mountain peak in Goa at 3,500 ft was once known as the best habitat for the tiger. Etymologically, Vagheri means 'abode of the tiger'.
"However, deforestation and poaching have today threatened this tiger habitat," says wildlife enthusiast Pankaj Laad. He has been working in this area for the last decade. "The plantation of exotic species a quarter of a century ago by the social forestry division and cashew plantations belonging to the locals of Zarme and Thane villages have also proved to be dangerous for the tiger," he adds.
Tulsidas Velip of Velipwada-Cavrem in Quepem taluka had informed the forest department through a memorandum in 2009 that the forests of deva panndongar and zori dongar have tigers and he had personally seen a tiger attack a grazing cow, while a bison had also been killed by a tiger in the area.
"Increasing mining activities in Cavrem and Maina villages should be curtailed immediately and the tiger habitat in the area should be protected," says Velip.
Between Verle and Salgini villages inside the Netravali wildlife sanctuary lies a hill named vagh dongar, literally tiger hill.
Netorlim-Sanguem resident Puti Gaonkar, 57, says, "Villagers of Verle and Salgini have seen tigers at vagh dongar and have even lost their grazing cattle to the big cat." Salgini panch Narayan Gaonkar adds, "Our villagers have seen tigers on many occasions. We respect the presence of the big cat in the jungle and try to protect it."
Range forest officer at the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary Vishwas Chodankar says, "We are aware about tiger movement in this area and have already planned a strategy to protect it and its habitat."
Deputy conservator of forests, South Goa division, M K Shambu says, "Our staff and officials are vigilant and are coordinating efforts to protect tigers in the wild"
Places like Vagh-Colamb in Mandrem, Vaghure in Pissurlem of Sattari taluka, Vaghurme in Savoi Verem of Ponda are etymologically linked to the tiger.
Similarly, Dongurli, Shirsode and Ugem in Sanguem taluka; Gaondongari in Canacona; Mauxii in Sattari; and Auchitwada in Bicholim have shrines dedicated to the tiger god.
Bittu Sahgal of Save Tiger campaign says, "There is need to constitute a tiger team which should include forest officers, community leaders and non-government organizations, which will work together to save the tiger from extinction."
Renowned conservationist Valmiki Thapar says, "The Bhagwan Mahaveer wildlife sanctuary and Molem national park cover a total area of 240 sq km of moist deciduous, semi-evergreen and evergreen forests, and boast of a rich diversity of fauna including the tiger."
"The Netravali sanctuary which has been notified will adjoin this area on one side covering an area of 200 sq km and the Mhadei sanctuary on the other, covering an equal area. If this happens, Goa will be one of the few states in India to cover its entire stretch of forests in the Western Ghats as a protected area," he adds.
Also connected through a forest patch is the tiny Bondla wildlife sanctuary. At the far end of Goa's forests, Cotigao sanctuary hugs the border with Karnataka and even a part of Dandeli sanctuary of Karnataka touches Goa. "This provides a vital corridor for tigers-from Maharashtra to Goa to Karnataka. But for how long?" asks Thappar.
In Mhadei wildlife sanctuary near the Anjunem dam's reservoir, assistant conservator of forests Subhash Henriques recently noticed pugmarks of a tigress and a cub. Speaking to reporters after the incident, he said efforts would be made to protect the tiger habitat.
However, no step has been taken by the forest department in this direction yet.
"There is no doubt that Goa is the land of the tiger. But mining activities have threatened the habitat of the tiger. We have recently submitted a proposal to the western ghats panel headed by noted Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil to consider areas of Mhadei sanctuary as Mhadei tiger reserve," says NGO Goa Foundation's Claude Alvares.
He adds, "The wildlife sanctuaries of Sattari and Sanguem are the only corridors for tigers to move from Karnataka into the reserve forests of Dodamarg in Maharashtra."
Pune-based tiger conservationist Anant Zanjale, on a recent visit to Charavane in Sattari where a tiger killed two buffaloes, said, "An adult tiger requires about 80 deers in a year as food. In comparison to the tough to catch deer, a solitary buffalo is an easy target. The Mhadei sanctuary is the apt habitat for tigers and needs to be protected on a priority."
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