GA-ANIMALS-VERMIN

Goa govt to look into demand to declare animals as vermin
    Panaji, Jun 10 (PTI) The Goa government will look into
the demand of farmers to declare certain wild animals as
vermin, state forest minister Vijai Sardesai said on Monday.
    Several farmers from Sattari and Sanguem talukas of
Goa have been demanding that animals like monkeys, wild boars
and peacocks be declared as vermin (harmful and objectionable)
as they were damaging crops, thus causing losses to them.
    These animals cannot be killed as they are covered
under the Wildlife Protection Act.
    The farmers have demanded that these animals be
declared vermin for a certain period of the year.
    Sardesai said the government will look into the
farmers' demand and also study reasons behind these animals
venturing into human habitats from the forest areas.
    "We can't run away from the issue of declaring certain
animals as vermin. We have to address the issue as it is
concerning the farmers," he told reporters in Margao.
    The increased plantation of Australian Acacia in
forests is leading to wild animals migrating to human habitats
"as these plants are not accepted by the animals", he said.
    "We need to replace the Australian Acacia with some
local plant varieties," he suggested.
    The minister also said that the forest department's
scheme of compensatory afforestation was not picking up as
there was "no place available" to plant new trees.
    "We will have to address all these issues," he added.
    The Centre had earlier sought a report from states to
declare certain overpopulated species as vermin for a limited
period of time in a given area, if found damaging crops.
    Once declared vermin, the particular species will not
be covered under the Wildlife Protection Act, and can be
hunted or culled without restriction. PTI RPS
GK GK