MARGAO:
Banners of the forest department have come up in the Margao SGPDA market, Navelim, Aquem-Baixo, Davorlim, besides the forest office at Aquem with a plea to the public to desist from catching or killing frogs to serve as meat. Poaching of frogs is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The forest department has set up mobile squads in Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem, besides Salcete, and will be on the move once monsoon begins in the state. Range Forest Officer Margao Siddesh Gawde said the forest department will patrol areas in entire South Goa district. “Additional staff and personnel will be deployed on duty to patrol vulnerable areas such as Guddi Paroda, Chandor, Loutolim , Dramapur, Verna and Sarzora,” Gawde informed. Animal lover Julio Quadros said an action plan is put in place wherein vehicles will be checked at random and anyone committing the offence will be dealt with as per the wildlife law. Replying to a question, Quadros said that the forest department had booked around six cases last year, adding that the mobile squads have been empowered to conduct raids on restaurants suspected of serving frog meat to customers.
Additional staff and personnel will be deployed on duty to patrol vulnerable areas such as Guddi Paroda, Chandor, Loutolim , Dramapur, Verna and Sarzora.””Siddesh Gawde, RFO Margao
