The ruthless poacher is closer home than you think. Thearrest of a former panch of the Poinguinim village panchayat, after wild boarmeat and Chital meat was found at his residence at Chiplem, Canacona, hasfurther exposed the rampant and cruel poaching in Goas southernmost wild lifesanctuary
Wild boar meat is a delicacy amongst the elite. It alsofetches a good price for the poachers.
Speaking to The Goan, Range Forest Officers NarayanVaingankar and Narayan Fal said that acting on a tip-off a forest team led byVaingankar arrested the former panch Dumingo Monteiro along with his friend and seized wild boar andchital meat weighing around 65 kgs.
The gun allegedly used to kill the wild boar and a chopperwas also attached.
The duo was arrested under section 9 read with 51 of WildLife Act 1972 and remanded for five days forest custody by CanaconaJudicial magistrate first class (JMFC).They were later granted conditional bail.
Sources disclosed that rampant hunting of wild animals hasbeen going on in Badem, Nadkem, Kuskem, Cotigao, Khola and Gaodogirium.
According to Janadhan Bhandhari, former sarpanch ofPoinguinim village panchayat, killing of wild boars and other animals isrampant at the sanctuary and in the Polem forests bordering Goa and Karnatakafor the past many years.
Wild boars are mostly killed at the commencement of theharvesting season as these animals mostly visit the paddy fields during thistime.
According to reliable sources, country-made bombs are mostlyused to kill wild boars, and many professional teams are involved in thiscrime. They have fixed clients and restaurants which purchase the meat due to agood demand especially during this season.
According to a local sarpanch, who spoke on condition ofanonymity, wild boars and chittals were also killed in the name of ‘Bhovani’, asacrifice made to God. He said many a time human beings are accidentally shot.He claimed that there have been around eight incidents of accidental shooting.
Claiming that the killing of wild animals was in full swing at Canacona,environmentalists have urged the chief conservator of forests to take action onsuch people.
