Sustaining all life on earth

India is considered to be one of the world’s biggest hotspots, the  total forest cover is 708,273 square kilometres, which accounts for 21.54% of the total area of the country. 

Goa with its vast expanse of forest cover makes for a favourable environment for many species. The forests are  easily home to 461 recorded bird species, which also includes migratory  birds and as many as 10 species which are endemic to the Western Ghats  and not found anywhere else in the world. 

Goa’s forests are also home to a wide variety of wild animals, including many  that are endemic and endangered, and many more that are yet to be recorded. 

The state also has six wildlife sanctuaries, and one national  park, the biggest being Netravali National Park covering a stretch of  around 200 sqkm, although the most commonly visited is the Bondla Wildlife  sanctuary due to a wide variety of animal life present here.  

Protecting and monitoring the respective wildlife sanctuaries and  national parks is the job of the forest department. However, animals are still poached and hunted in large numbers.  

Beside this there is also a huge problem of human-wildlife conflict which often ends in tragic loss. Just recently, the unprecedented killing of four Bengal tigers (considered to be an endangered species) deep in the recesses of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary near Golavali village in Sattari taluka in a ‘revenge attack’ after the big cats killed some cattle brought to the fore long-pending demands of a tiger reserve in Goa.  

Speaking on the relationship between the department and the locals  residing near these sanctuaries, Santosh Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests said, “When these sanctuaries were declared (especially Netravali and Mhadei),  there was a lot of protest from the locals as they claimed they  weren’t taken into confidence when this decision was made. So  there is a lack of confidence in the forest department which we need to work on. In this regards, we have planned to conduct several workshops to sensitise the locals here to the presence of the tigers as well as other wild animals. In order to  involve them in the process, we have also decided to pick a person from each of these  respective households and use them as ‘trackers’, so we can  improve employment activity as well.” 

But the majestic tigers weren’t the only animals creating a buzz. News of leopard deaths after being hit by vehicular traffic across the state including Guirim and Raia also made several headlines last year. 

Beside local habitation in forest area, rapid urbanisation is also being blamed for invading and displacing the state’s wildlife besides decreasing forest cover. So what, if anything, are we doing to protect and conserve our wildlife? Safe sanctuary

 Bhagwan Mahavir National Park - Sanguem, Dharbandora (107sqkm) 

 Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary - Sanguem, Dharbandora (133sqkm) 

 Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary - 

Canacona (86sqkm) 

 Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary - Ponda, Sattari, Dharbandora (8sqkm) 

 Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary - 

Tiswadi (1.8sqkm) 

 Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary - Sattari (208.48sqkm) 

 Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary - Sanguem (211.05sqkm)