MARGAO
A three-and-half-year-old bison died at Velipwadda in Balli village on Tuesday morning after it got entrapped near a plantation.
Post-mortem of the bison revealed it was one-and-a-half month pregnant and died due to respiratory arrest.
As the bison was entrapped to a rope near a plantation, the office of the Range Forest Officer, Quepem, was immediately informed and called for the rescue operation.
RFO Siddesh Gawde informed that rescue team found the animal struggling after it was entrapped to a rope. “We called for teams from Bondla and Cotigao to come with tranquilizer guns, but soon received a message that the bison expired,”
he said.
A lady doctor, who conducted the post-mortem examination, said the bison was pregnant. “We found that the bison died due to respiratory arrest,” the veterinary doctor added.
Meanwhile, the carcass of the bison was burnt by the forest officials before it was buried near the site.
Though the episode appeared accidental, forest officials said an inquiry would be initiated as to why the owner of the plantation had laid the trap at the site.
Meanwhile, former Balli sarpanch and panch member, Rajesh Desai said the incident was a sad one. He said wild animals were straying into human habitats as their home is being encroached upon by humans. He appealed to the government to increase the wildlife cover and punish those involved in illegal tree felling.
