A pet dog exploded to death on Wednesday after it accidentally gobbled a food item stuffed with an explosive, which was meant to kill wild boars, in a forest at Canacona.
It is understood that this is a common occurrence in the forest every night and that several farmers have complained about boars destroying their paddy crops. Wild boars could also be killed in such a manner for their meat. Whatever may be the reason, it does not call for such a violent action which can kill the animals in the most barbaric way.
God forbid, it could be a human being who could be maimed or even killed by such a crude bomb after stepping on it while walking in the forest. Other methods need to be adopted by the farmers in order to prevent wild animals, including wild boars from destroying the paddy crop.
Methods like proper fencing of the paddy field, digging a ditch around the plantation, laying traps for the animals and the trapped animals being let out in the wild, making noise by beating drums to drive away the animals could be adopted. Killing animals in such a violent way is no way to solve the problem.
The police need to warn the farmers not to use any explosives to kill the wild animals including wild boars and take necessary action against those who violate the laws.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
