By Rupesh Samant

Panaji, May 18: Goa forest department officials have confirmed presence of Tiger at Bhagawan Mahaveer National Park, located in the Southern part of the State, which is reported for the first time in this area.

A senior officer told PTI that presence of Tiger was recorded during camera trapping method adopted by the department on May 14 at Bhagawan Mahaveer National Park in South Goa.

“As a part of scientific management of only National Park it was decided to record presence of mammalian diversity of Bhagwan Mahaveer National Park, field staff were sensitized for carrying out observation and recording indirect evidences of wildlife during there routine field visit based on this strategic camera trapping were carried out,” the official said.

“The camera trapping has recorded presence of Tiger in Bhagwan Mahaveer National Park for the first time on May, 14,” he said.

The officer said that the striped tiger presence in the area indicates that level of protection, quality of wildlife habitat and wildlife management practices in National Park are of high levels.

The park is spread across 240 square kilometers of area. The officer said that the staff at this Park have been trying to record presence of this elusive big cat since year back, and finally the efforts has been successful.

The team of forest officers was led by Range Forest Officer Paresh Porob.

The officer said that the department has procured more camera traps to strengthen field staff so as to record rich natural heritage of Goa’s Forests. “The intensive camera trapping is also being carried out in other parts of National Park as well wildlife sanctuary area,” he added.

Goa has six wildlife sanctuaries and a national park, almost all of whom are located along the Western Ghat region of the coastal State. pti rps