Goa seeks aid as human-animal encounters rise

Mapusa: The forest department has written to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, asking it to conduct a study to help mitigate rising human-animal conflicts in the state.

“This is a one-of-a-kind study ever done in the country to assess the wildlife outside a protected area. Given Goa’s dense green cover, the possibility of wildlife sightings is high, which means that chances of human-animal conflict are also likely. Therefore, we have written to the institute at Dehradun to understand the existing migratory corridors, villages near wildlife-prone areas and mitigation measures,” said Navin Kumar, conservator of forests (wildlife and ecotourism).

The department has requested a proposal from WII to conduct a study mapping conflict zones, identifying vulnerable species, delineating existing animal corridors, and suggesting mitigation measures.

Over the past few days, multiple leopard sightings and attacks on domestic animals have been reported in Pernem. A local said three sightings occurred in this week alone, including one near a local bank and another on the main road in Agarwada at around 5am on Thursday. On Wednesday midnight, a leopard was spotted at Tulaskarwadi attempting to catch a dog near the govt high school. Residents managed to click a photo before it vanished.

Another leopard was caught on CCTV attacking a pet dog in Amere-Poraskade, Pernem, sparking panic among residents.

A 24-year-old hotel management student sustained minor injuries in a leopard attack while riding his scooter in Agarwada. Over a dozen other leopard sightings have been reported in Pernem recently, with two caught in cages at Arambol and Tuem.