the goan I network
VALPOI
Mystery continues to surround the location of the bison which has been linked to two deaths in and around Guleli village of Sattari taluka, as a baffled forest team prepares to call off the operation to search the animal.
While locals blame the forest team for its inability to locate the bison despite a prolonged search operation for nearly two months, forest officials have, however, suggested that the animal may have moved elsewhere or could even have died of injuries it had sustained.
The issue has dominated discussions among people in and around Guleli village, even since two women, Jayanthi Gaonkar of Kankire and Poojan Melekar of Shel Melavali, died after being attacked by the bison.
The two incidents had sparked outrage in the area, with angry residents confronting forest officials and even threatening agitations if the bison was not captured and moved to other areas.
Under pressure from the locals, a forest team had been set up to conduct search operations in the area. At one time, the forest team had even sighted the bison, which was found wounded, but tranquilising the big animal was a challenging and delicate operation in the forested area.
But despite the prolonged efforts, the forest team has been unable to capture the bison and is even preparing to wind up its search operations in Guleli area.
“It is ridiculous that the forest team has been unable to locate the bison till now. Residents still live in fear as there is a possibility the animal may strike again,” remarked Guleli Deputy Sarpanch Nitesh Gawade.
“If this bison strikes again, who would be held responsible?” asked Gawade.
When asked, a forest official said their team had been trying its best since the last two months to locate the bison in the forested area.
“Despite all our efforts, we were unfortunately unable to locate and capture the bison. Given the fact that the bison has not been sighted in the area gives rise to the possibility that it may have moved to another area or may have died of severe injury to one of its legs,” said the official.
