Keri: The Footages of Camera Traps has repeatedly proved the presence of the tiger inside Miwa Mildi Mhadei.
However, in recent months, local residents have reported an increase in the tiger movement within the holy area.
The death of four tigers with poisoning reported from Golaulim in Sattari in January last year proved the presence of the tiger at the top of the Holy.
Recently, a male tiger was seen in Goa Forest, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Tiger was preying on the livestock belonging to the Dhangar family who lived in the sanctuary and its surroundings.
During the rainy season, local residents reported repeated appearance from large cats in and around Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, which was reaffirmed by the presence of Scats, Pugmarks and other evidence.
However, the camera trap failed to capture the tiger footage.
At present, Sanctuary has three female tigers, other than adult male tigers.
“We have directed our field staff to patrol and monitor the tiger movements in the sanctuary.
Our efforts to get success to make the natural habitat beneficial for tigers,” Deputy Forest Conservator, Wildlife Division, Jabestin Arulraj to TII.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in his report in 2020 has stated that the management of the sanctuary left “many to be desirable” and without strengthening adequate conservation efforts, the place could be a “death trap for tigers”.
Unfortunately, even after more than two decades declared the Mhadei region as a refuge, it was managed in total ad-hoc “because there were no management plans”, the NTCA report had noted.
“In fact, the anti-hunting camp has been established in Mhadei Sanctuary, there is no proper protection mechanism.
Increasing anthropogenic activities posing a threat to the tigers and habitat here,” said Wildlifer from Bicholim, Subodh rose.
Range Forest Officer of the Mhadei Sanctuary, Deepak Tandel told Tii, “We are in the process of forming a tiger task team from our officials who will continue to work in protecting and preserving the tiger.” NGOs, Goa Foundation based in Mapusa have approached the Bombay High Court in Goa to direct the state government to act on NTCA reports related to tiger conservation in Goa.
