Loliem-Polem Panchayat writes to Forest to trap ‘Tiger’ terrorising locals and killing domestic animals
Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: Several Goans and authorities may have doubts about the existence of a ‘Tiger’ (Pateri Wagh-Stripped Tiger) frequenting the village, but Loliem-Polem has made it an official claim of existence of ‘Tiger’ after the Sarpanch wrote to the forest department, requesting to take necessary steps to trap the ‘Tiger’ immediately to stops its attacks on domestic animals and terrorising people.
In a letter addressed to the Range Forest Officer, Canacona, VP Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Nisha Chari informed the ‘Tiger’ is coming to the locality and taking away livestock and terrorises the people.
“You are requested to trap the Tiger as it has become very dangerous to humans as it comes close to residential areas and kills domestic animals,” she said.
The letter states, ‘The tiger is coming in locality at Pedem in our panchayat area and killing the dogs, calf, cows and goats from this area. The village is in a state of panic due to such tiger poaching, and people are afraid to go out at night for their agriculture or daily routine works, also other backward community is staying in this area and it becomes dangerous to them as they are having their domestic animals, which the tiger Kills often. Also last time one Tiger attacked a villager of Pedem and injured him,” Sarpanch informed Canacona Range Forest officer.
‘You are requested to take necessary steps to trap the ‘Tiger’ immediately.’, ends the letter signed by Sarpanch Nisha Chari.
Incidentally, last two weeks atleast two incidents of wild cat attacks on cattles tied in the cowshed were reported in Loliem village. The residents have attributed these attacks to the stripped Tiger (Pateri Wagh) and even one resident claimed he has sighted the Pateri Wagh while running away when he opened the door of his house.
In yet another significance, atleast two residences have captured a large wild Cat (almost resembling like a Tiger) seen magnificiently walking through the compounds on their CCTV’s.
However, many residents claimed the wild cat captured in the CCTV is not a Tiger but a Leopard of larger size, and even as debate continues about the existence of a ‘Tiger’, Sarpanch wrote a letter to the forest department seeking their help to trap the ‘Tiger’ .
There are however, different views on the existence or even Visits of a Tiger (Stripped Tiger- Pateri Wagh) or even a black-Panther or Cheetah (as widely claimed amidst local residents) in Canacona forests, with many locals suggesting a proper study or placements of cameras at strategic locations are required to find out the truth.
Besides, the incidents of wild cat attacks have increased manifold, since the speculations grew over the survey’s and other activities began on the eco-sensitive Bhagwati Plateau, which according to locals Bhagwati Plateau is the home to most the village flora and fauna, besides all the wild animals.