BY GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Nature and wildlife lovers met in the city yesterday to collectively ‘croak’ about innovative ways and means to protect frogs from rampant poaching and the ill effects of urbanization.
The meeting held at the Kala Academy yesterday evening was organised by the WildGoa-online forum that works for the betterment of the wild side of Goa and focuses on creating awareness on the need for protecting the amphibians, hunted and devoured during monsoons and served in large numbers, as a delicacy called ‘jumping chicken’.
For more than three years now, the forum has been trying to send a strong message that killing of frogs for meat was not only inhuman, but also illegal.
“They are protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Catching, killing and selling frog meat could result in stringent punishment with fine and imprisonment,” promoter of the forum Clinton Vaz told GT.
While some believe it is too early to start this campaign, as the poaching begins only during monsoons, Vaz argues that it is always better to start the awareness program sooner.
Vaz also has his sight set on April 28, which is observed as the Save
Frogs Day. “The Goa Forest Department is also supporting us in this cause and is also willing to offer monetary help,” he said.
Wildlife enthusiasts feel, that while authorities have been booking offences involving illegal frog hunting, a lot more needs to be done.
“Last year 10 persons were booked. However, no one was convicted. A conviction could mean up to three years imprisonment,” informed Vaz.
During the meeting several suggestions were put forth by the participants to make this campaign more effective.
Suggestions ranged from identifying restaurants that serve frog meat, targeting youth, putting up posters in panchayats or other public places, which inform people that killing frogs is illegal.
Participants also suggested making documentaries on the subject and posting them on social networking sites like Facebook and Orkut.
Increase in the mortality rate of frogs due to pesticides was also discussed during the meet.
Horticulturist Miguel Braganza suggested that organic farming should be promoted, as pesticides were equally bad for frogs as well as humans. Some rather ‘wild’ suggestions came forth too.
Caitan Philip Colaco from Dona Paula vouched for the concept of frog farming and said that exporting frog meat could be a source of foreign exchange for India, an option, which Vaz immediately shot down.
“The Bull frog or the other wild species are wild animals which are protected and are the property of the government. To breed them you would have to change the law,” confirmed Vaz.
WildGoa in the coming days will also seek the support of people hailing from villages in their campaign, as this practice is quite prevalent in the rural parts of Goa.
