In the not-so-hoary past, Olive Ridley turtles would surface all along Goa’s coastline. Tigers would roam freely in many of the state’s hinterland and midland forest areas.
How they are worshipped in some parts and a few places are named after vag (tiger) is proof of that. Other wildlife, too, was localised in pristine habitats.
Now, four beaches of Morjim and Mandrem in Pernem and Agonda and Galgibaga in Canacona talukas have been designated as turtle nesting sites under coastal regulations zone (CRZ) notification 2011.
But this season, as in the past, but in bigger numbers this time, they tried to “encroach” on other touristy beaches of Miramar, Candolim, Vagator, Baga-Calangute, Arambol and Keri for their annual nesting.
The big cats, now considered to be “visitors” and “tourists” by Forest Minister, Vishwajit Rane and a few department officials created panic in a coastal village of Assolna recently.
In 2011, then minister for environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh, had asked then Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
But the Goa government not only ignored this proposal but even refused to accept the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa of July 2023, in which the government was directed to carve out a protected area in Mhadei for the big cats.
The government’s stand was that the issue needed to be studied properly in view of the rights of forest dwellers. If notified, it would have been the 55th tiger reserve in India.
With the pressure on land resources increasing severely, the concept of wildlife habitat itself is likely to be badly hit. Under the 2011 census, the total number of census towns has increased to 71 and Goa is well on the way to become a city state.
Wildlife rescuers like Amrut Singh of Animal Rescue Squad attribute the increasing deforestation to the shrinking of the animal habitat.
“Houses have come up even in protected areas. Non-local persons buying properties in forest areas contribute to the problem,” Singh said.
Leave aside wildlife, even domesticated animals like cattle, which had vast grazing grounds reserved for them by Comunidades, are being displaced and disoriented by urbanisation.
“Even the cattle have no place and are found squatting on roads. Rural folks also don’t want to rear cattle as hills and forests are disappearing,” Sing said.
Rapid urbanisation presents a huge challenge for the survival of wildlife and biodiversity. ”We are more concerned about urban wildlife, as there is a misconception that there is no wildlife in urban areas. But snakes, owls, turtles and other animals are surviving in small green patches, streams and even gutters,” Charan Desai, a Ponda-based wildlife rescuer said.
The loss of wildlife habitat has collateral impacts, triggering an increase in man-animal conflicts. Bisons, wild boars, monkeys and other wild animals are damaging paddy crops, coconut, banana and other plantations, leaving farmers distraught about losses.
In a recent case at Nirancal, Ponda, orchard owners complained of huge crop damage. There have been more complaints all over Goa and farmers have been demanding the culling of some vermin.
A forest official conceded that man-animal conflicts have increased due to loss or disturbance to their habitat, mining, and construction activities. “The matter needs to be studied for proper management of man-animal conflicts,” the official said.
"The forest department does its best to protect areas in wildlife sanctuaries. It carries out extensive afforestation programmes to rejuvenate and increase forest areas. The deforestation in other areas is due to population growth and other reasons," the official added.
Wildlife also faces a lethal threat from speeding vehicles on the labyrinth of road network in Goa.
As per a study by Study and Awareness of Wildlife and Environment (SAWE), Ponda, the incidences of road kills are increasing and taking a heavy toll on amphibians, reptiles and other animals. The cases of poaching and forest fires are also serious perils to it.
Wildlife has a right to coexist and this has to be understood by all. “Their spaces are diminishing and we have to help wildlife coexist. If we don’t help them at least we shouldn’t disturb them,” Desai said.