Forest dept gears up to rein in frog poachers in South Goa

With monsoons finally round  the corner, the Forest department is gearing up to carry out its annual  ritual “ to keep frog poachers at bay, more so around Salcete’s  countryside.

While special squads constituted by the department will  patrol the low-lying fields, which are prone for frog poaching, forest  officials plan to spread awareness among the public the benefits of  frog to the environment, especially to control the mosquitoes.

South  Goa Deputy Conservator of Forests, Anil Shetgaonkar informed that the  initial 10 days of the monsoons are very important as far as frog  conservation is concerned. “The South Goa forest office has constituted  squads to rein in the poachers. The first 10 days of the rainy  season is important in the conversation exercise. Our squads will be  around certain low-lying areas, which had in the past witnessed frog  poaching,” he said.

“Normally, our operation begins at 7 in the  evening and continues late in the night. We had been successful in the  past to nab poachers right in the paddy fields,” Shetgaonkar added.

The  South Goa Deputy Conservator of Forests said that action from the  department itself will not help rein in the poachers unless the exercise  is supported by the people. “I appeal to the people to provide us the  information when they come across youngsters entering low-lying paddy  fields and are in the process of catching frogs,” Shetgaonkar appealed.

Apart  from the enforcement drive to save the frogs, Shetgaonkar pointed out  that the department has also stressed on the need to create awareness  amongst the people, especially amongst the students and youth on frog  conservation. “There’s a need to educate the people the benefits of frogs around and how they help us protect the environment,” he said.

Forest officials reminded that  catching and killing frogs or serving frog meat in eateries is against  the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, with an official warning  poachers of stringent action including three years imprisonment besides  fine of Rs 50,000 if found guilty.