presence of TIGER ATKeri, at the foothill of Vagheri

KERI: Keri, at the foothill of Vagheri, named after the tiger, has been experiencing the presence of the big cat over the last many years. The area has witnessed the movement of tigers over the last few days.

On April 11, Jaydev Parsekar from Baherilwada-Keri heard a tiger roaring at Golakade in the cashew plantation on the border of Keri, Anjunem and Shiroli, villages of Sattari near the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.

Parsekar said, "In the morning, at around 7.30am, as per routine work, I was in the cashew plantation plucking cashew apples and nuts. At this time, I heard the roaring of a tiger. It was certainly the roar of a tiger since I heard it repeatedly and from my childhood, I know how a tiger's roar is different from that of a leopard."

View Larger Map Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagargaon, Goa
He further added, "I was very much frightened. I left everything there and ran away from the plantation and did not return for four days after that to pluck cashews."

Manjunath Nair, residing at Keri, had earlier sighted a tigress with two cubs in Sambalyachi Rai on the border of Virdi in Maharashtra and Shiroli of Goa.

Keri-based Vivekananda environment awareness brigade (VEAB), has since the last decade, been involved in collecting information about the tiger's presence through pugmarks, faeces and information about tiger kills. In 2009, a tigress killed a cow belonging to Sai Pingale of Vagheri and then three buffaloes belonging to Mano Phale of Charavane were killed.

Paresh Porob, range forest officer of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, who is well-versed with the tiger corridors of Goa, under the guidance of principal chief conservator of forests Richard D'Souza and DCF of wildlife (North Goa) G T Kumar has began in scientific ways to collect information about tiger's presence in the area and finally achieved success in getting pictures of tigers by setting up camera traps.

On March 4, chief minister Manohar Parrikar gave a green signal for a comprehensive study of areas where tigers were sighted by experts and an experienced agency to study the feasibility of the tiger's presence.

N Sambakumar, the associate of K Ullas Karanth of Wildlife conservation society has been involved in tracking the movement of the big cat. It was, however, the dedicated efforts of Porob and his team for the success in capturing the pictures of tigers.

Recently, in Coparde-Dhabe area of Sattari, Fati Sawant reported that his cow was killed by a tiger on March 24. Villagers from Charavane, Rivem, Golauli too reported about tiger sightings. Sangam Patil, vice-president of VEAB, who along with volunteers visited Anjunem reservoir recently, said, "As the reservoir of the dam has potable water and the presence of a good number of herbivorous wild animals, it has proved a suitable natural habitat for the tigers which needed to be protected."

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