Panaji, Nov 18, : , After farmers complained, the Goa government opened Thursday’s doors to conditional culling wild boars that cause damage to crops and horticultural plants. A directive from Santosh Kumar the Principal Chief Conservator for Forests has given the authority to the North and South Goa district deputy forest conservators to issue culling orders (Sus scrofa), to the private-held forests.
Kumar stated that he had issued an order stating, “In the exercise of Sub-section (2) of section 5 of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, I, Chief Wildlife Warden of Goa with the prior approval of Government of Goa have hereby delegated the powers and obligations under Clause (b) of Section 1 of the said Act only in relation to wild animal (sus scrofa) as described at serial number 19 of Schedule III of said Act to Dy Conservator of Forests (North Goa Forest Division)
This decision by the state government is made ahead of 2022 Assembly elections and follows a number of complaints from farmers in Goa’s hinterland who complained about the destruction of their crops due to wild boar marauding.
Wild boars are protected under Schedule III of The Wildlife Protection Act.However, this Act allows culling boars following specific protocols.
Only wild boars may be killed in private areas after a complaint has been made to the forest authorities.
Only professionals are permitted to shoot wild boars using heavy bore rifles.The carcass is considered government property and cannot be sold.
Wild boar, a popular, but illegal, game meat from Goa is often found in restaurants in rural areas.
Rapid urbanization and deforestation have led to an increase in human-animal conflict across the entire state.
Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister of Goa had recently told the state Assembly about the Goa government’s plans to plant fruit-bearing trees in forest areas.This is done in order to stop wild animals entering human habitation.
Peacocks were on the wish-list for vermin species by the state agriculture ministry.Farmers claimed that the peacock species was causing damage to their crops.
The state animal is the bison, while the peacock is considered the national bird.
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