Keri: Wildlife experts have called for urgent mitigation measures to counter the rise in attacks on livestock by leopards and tigers. The past month has seen a jump in such incidents in the Mhadei basin areas of Sattari and Dharbandora. Wildlifers have said that the poor prey base has been the reason for the occurrence.
Wildlife biologist AJT Johnsingh submitted a report to the state forest department suggesting mitigation measures like enhancing the population of sambars to bring tigers back to the forests. He said no sincere efforts have been made in this direction, due to which leopards and tigers attack domestic animals.
Earlier this week, a buffalo belonging to Deu Pingale of Surla in Sattari was attacked by a tiger. Range forest officer (RFO) of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary Geerish Bailudkar told TOI, “After receiving information, our officials conducted a panchanama and postmortem examination of the buffalo. The affected family has been assured of necessary compensation and assistance at the earliest.”
Applications for compensation from two affected families of Dhave were submitted to the RFO of Valpoi range, Shamsundar Gawas. In Dharage of Tambdi Surla, Dharbandora, a buffalo belonging to Dasharath Aitrekar was attacked by a tiger a fortnight ago. However, the locals said that no officials from the wildlife division had taken awareness of the incident.
Vithal Shelke, a wildlifer associated with Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade, Keri, said, “There is a need to increase the population of different species of deer, which has been dwindling due to lack of food in the natural habitat and a healthy number of predators. in the forests of the Mhadei region of Goa. The forest department has to activate the anti-poaching camps and watch towers already established and has empowered the forest personnel to safeguard the sanctuaries and forested areas.”