The state animal of Goa – the majestic gaur – has been fighting a life and death battle in various areas in the state, ever since the manbison conflict escalated in Goa. Cases of bison intruding into agricultural and horticultural fields are continuously on the rise. However the State Forest Department as well as other concerned government authorities have not taken the problem seriously and no proper plan of scientific management of the natural habitat and mitigation measures have been undertaken. This has resulted in intensified human – bison conflicts in different parts of Goa.
In October 2014, the Animal Rescue Squad of Bicholim and forest officials of Pernem range found two Indian bison killed by electrocution. In Alorna there are increasing cases of bison entering agricultural fields and destroying seasonal crops.
Alorna has a reserve forest area that was a natural habitat for wild animals. However increasing mining activities in nearby Kalane of Maharashtra and the destruction and encroachment of forests have forced the bison to enter cultivated fields and graze on crops in the Hankhane, Alorna and Ibrampur areas. Killing bison with electrocution is not something new in Goa. In September 2003 seven bison were killed at a farm in Bela-Sancorda of Dharbandora. The owner had installed live wires that were 950 metres in length and of 240 volts capacity on the farm, to prevent wild animals from devouring pineapples, chickoo, papaya, banana and other fruit plantations on the property. In August 2004 skeletal remains of two bison were unearthed at Caranzol-Collem by the forest department.
The bison or gaurs are becoming more and more aggressive and destructive on account of the increasing struggle for fodder, water and the natural habitat on the whole. These herbivorous animals, the largest among the bovines in India, were mostly found on the plateaus where the seasonal grasses, bushes, roots and shoots provided them the necessary food and fodder. But today these grassy plateaus are considered to be wastelands and are used on a large scale for developmental purposes. On March 29, it was revealed that Yenu Soliyekar in Shivade near Sacorda village of Dharbandora was attacked and killed by a bison. The Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Pradip Shet Verenkar along with the Deputy Conservator of Forests of North Goa, Kuldip Sharma visited the site. Verekar said,“The place where the corpse of Yenu Soliyekar was lying is just 1.5 km away from the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. The bison and other wild animals have been repeatedly visiting areas of horticultural plantation in search of food, fodder and water. There is a possibility that the bison might have attacked Yenu when disturbances were caused while going to the waterholes.”
On April 2, the residents of Mayem in Bicholim informed the Range Forest Officer of Keri, Geerish Bailudkar, of a bison attack on three persons. Umesh Durbhatkar was riding a scooter along with his wife Vaishali and daughter Urvarshi near Mayem lake, when the bison collided with them. Umesh and his daughter suffered injuries. Urvarshi’s leg got fractured and she was hospitalized for further treatment. Bailudkar says, “The villagers of Mayem informed us that they had sighted the bison near the road where work of beautification of Mayem lake is in progress. When I met the affected family in hospital, Umesh Durbhatkar told that they were attacked by a bison in the evening.”
In Sattari and Bicholim areas, villagers have been repeatedly complaining that the bison are becoming aggressive and causing losses to banana plantations and paddy fields. Satej Rane, a horticulturist from Latambarce says, “We are facing heavy losses on account of bison. Our horticultural crops have been damaged again and again by the bison. To drive them out when they are feasting on the banana plants or other crops is very risky.”
Amrut Singh, a wildlife expert from Bicholim, has studied the man-bison conflict in various parts of Goa. He says, “Climate change has been affecting the natural habitat of the bison. In Canacona, Sanguem, Dharbandora areas I have seen water holes are drying up. Our efforts for improvement and management of the natural habitat of these wild animals are meagre. If no proper and scientific methodology is followed on a priority basis, the problem will not be resolved.”
During a survey in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, 32 species of plants were identified as food for bison by the zoology researchers Dr. S. K. Shyama and Dr Suman- Gad. As per their research, the bison consume herbs, young shoots, flowers, fruits of elephant apple (Dillenia ssp.) with a high preference for leaves. Food preference varies by season. In winter and monsoon, they prefer to feed on fine and fresh grasses and herb species of the legume family, such as tick clover (Desmodium triflorum), but also browse on leaves of shrub species such as karvy (Strobilanthes callosus), Indian boxwood (Gardenia latifolia), mallowleaved crossberry (Grewia abutifolia), East-Indian screw tree (Helicteres ssp.) and the chaste tree (Vitex negundo). In summer, they also feed on bark of teak (Tectona grandis), fruit of golden shower tree (Cassia fistula), and on the bark and fruit of cashew (Anacardium occidentale).
They may debark trees due to shortages of preferred food, and of minerals and trace elements needed for their nutrition, or for maintaining an optimum fiber to protein ratio for proper digestion of food and better assimilation of nutrients. They may turn to available browse species and fibrous teak bark in summer as green grass and herbaceous resources dry up. High concentrations of calcium (22400 ppm) and phosphorus (400 ppm) have been reported in teak bark, so consumption of teak bark may help the animals to satisfy both mineral and other food needs. Long-term survival and conservation of these herbivores depends on the availability of preferred plant species for food. Hence, the protection of historically preferred habitats used by the gaur is a significant factor in conservation biology.
- Rajendra Kerkar
