Tiger Conservation Controversy in Goa

Conflicting Views on Tiger Presence

The Goa Government presented differing arguments regarding tiger presence in Goa. Initially, it claimed there was "no permanent presence of tigers," but in the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, it argued that Goa has a resident tiger population connected to other tiger reserves.

Legal Proceedings and Orders

• In July 2023, the Bombay High Court ordered Goa to declare the Mhadei sanctuary and other regions a 'tiger reserve' as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recommendations.
• The Goa Government challenged this order in the Supreme Court through a special leave petition (SLP).

Arguments Against Declaring a Tiger Reserve

• The NTCA guidelines require 800-1,000 sq. km for a tiger reserve, but Goa's protected area totals 745 sq. km.
• A population of about 1,00,000 people resides in the area, complicating potential relocation and risking social unrest.
• Only three tigers were detected in 2018, with no evidence of residency, suggesting the area serves as a transit corridor.

Recent Developments and Court Orders

• The Supreme Court directed a Central Empowered Committee to assess the stakeholders' views and report back.
• The Goa Foundation petitioned to declare Mhadei as a tiger reserve after four tigers were poisoned in 2021.
• The court stayed resort proposals in the proposed reserve area until a final decision.

NTCA's 2022 Tiger Estimation Report

The report noted consistently low tiger numbers in Goa since 2014 but recognized the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary's potential for expanding the tiger range in the region.