Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has called for greater clarity on the actual number and distribution of stray dogs in the state, noting wide variations in figures available with different authorities.
The Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar was hearing a suo motu writ petition concerning the stray dog issue when the Union government submitted a provisional figure of approximately 39,180 dogs.
Advocate Somnath Karpe, representing the Union government through the Principal Secretary, told the court that the number was still provisional and had not undergone final collation. The figure was submitted to assist the Bench in its consideration of the matter.
The court also explored the possibility of using geo-tagging to map stray dogs across Goa. The Bench indicated that even a partial geo-tagging exercise could help authorities understand where the animals are concentrated and assist in planning future interventions.
The reliability of existing estimates was also questioned. The Bench recalled that figures placed on record earlier had shown a stray dog population equivalent to around nine per cent of Goa’s human population in November 2022, while another government estimate in July 2023 had put the figure at 4.5 per cent.
The court had consequently sought information on whether the Union government had any census data, including provisional data, that could provide a more dependable baseline.
During Thursday’s proceedings, a respondent also referred to a media report quoting the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services as putting Goa’s stray dog population at approximately 56,000 in January 2025.
Against the backdrop of these differing estimates, the Bench remarked, “I hope when the sterilisation begins, this does not turn out to be three times the figures.”
The court observed that establishing a credible population figure would be important not only for determining the spread of stray dogs across Goa’s talukas but also for deciding appropriate measures, including sterilisation.
In a related matter concerning an animal shelter, the Animal Trust informed the court that it would submit its application for technical approval within two days.
The Bench meanwhile directed the Tuem Village Panchayat to place its affidavit on record and posted the matter for further hearing on September 16.
