Panther brings cheer to wildlife activists

Goan netizens have gone gaga over a gorgeous big black cat prowling near a watering hole in the state’s territory of the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary. Environmentalist and nature enthusiasts heralded this panther’s presence, but what impact will this sighting have on conservation? “The sighting was because of its proximity to the Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka, which provides protection to big feline species including tigers and leopards. Black panthers (melanistic leopards) are residents of the Netravali-Mhadei area but more on the Karnataka and Maharashtra side. The sighting could also be because of reduced interference from humans of late,” says environmentalist

Rajendra Kerkar

.
The sighting that occurred a few months after the tiger killing in Mhadei, has garnered renewed interest in Goa’s big cat conservation. “People thought that there were no tigers left in the sanctuary, but the tiger presence was felt soon after, in the

Mhadei

belt, and thus three tigers are speculated to be present in the area,” says Kerkar.
An official from the forest department also pointed out that a

black panther

was first seen here in 2004. “People often mistake it for a new species; a panther is a leopard with more melanin content in its fur,” the official said. “Conservation of the big cat population is only possible when we protect the green cover and the herbivore

prey

population. Man-animal conflicts have occurred because the prey come very close to habitation and the predators then follow,” he added. He pointed out that the picture that has gone viral, was a testament to the department’s success in implementing wildlife management techniques.