PERNEM: Conservationists in Goa are outraged over the recent mishandling of a leopard captured by the Forest Department in Chopdem-Pernem, where the animal sustained injuries. This incident has prompted wildlife activists to demand accountability and transparency, leading national animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi to intervene.
Gandhi provided updates on the leopard’s condition, initially stating on Friday that the Chief Wildlife Warden of Goa informed her the leopard was being treated and would either be released or sent to a zoo. By Saturday, Gandhi conveyed that the leopard had been released into the Pernem Forest on Friday night, with a video of the release shared with her.
However, activists are asking for proof of the leopard’s release in the Pernem forest given that they have not seen any videos or photos, so that they can ascertain the leopard’s current health.
Wildlife activists allege that proper protocols were not initially followed to ensure the leopard’s safety. Aaron Fernandes, a dedicated wildlife rescuer, pressed for community-based awareness programmes to prevent such incidents.
He argues that many incidents labelled as ‘conflicts’ are often mischaracterised, as simply spotting a big cat or crocodile shouldn’t necessitate capture.
Fernandes pointed out that large-scale forest destruction, such as in Mopa, forces wildlife into villages, creating a cycle where locals demand animal removal when encounters occur. He criticised the locals for not opposing this destruction but instead demanding animal removal when encounters occur. This leads to pressure on forest officials from local politicians to capture animals, fearing voter backlash if they refuse, he said.
Fernandes criticised the current practices of capture and relocation, noting that leopards are often moved without proper identification or tracking, potentially leading to repeated captures of the same animal. This practice, he felt can turn a non-problematic animal into a ‘problem animal’ by placing it in unfamiliar territory.
Fernandes highlighted the recent incident in Pernem where locals mocked a trapped leopard, causing it distress and injury. He emphasizes the need for proper protocols to protect both animals and humans during such operations and called for better monitoring of released animals, suggesting that tagging leopards before release could prevent retaliatory killings by locals.
Puja Mitra, a wildlife conservationist, emphasised the need for collaboration between the Forest Department and a network of wildlife experts to develop a State-wide outreach and capacity-building programme on wildlife coexistence and conflict management. She suggested establishing a Community Conservation Leader Network (CCL) in collaboration with village-level Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
“Each village CCL can be trained to help report cases in a structured manner and maintain a record, allowing for better management actions and ensuring protocols are followed,” said Mitra.
Activists also stress the importance of protecting forests and designated conservation areas from destruction. Fernandes criticised local politicians, including the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister, who is also the Forest Minister, for the TCP amendments that threaten forests and protected areas.
Fernandes condemned recent comments made by the Mandrem MLA about leopards in the Assembly as inappropriate, given the treatment meted out to the big cat captured this week in his constituency.
“The root cause of human-wildlife conflicts lies in unchecked development and habitat destruction. Authorities and communities should address these issues rather than resorting to constant animal relocations,” said Fernandes, who advocates for stricter enforcement of forest protection laws and a holistic approach to wildlife conservation that includes habitat preservation, community education and responsible development practices.