 "Peacock")
National bird peacock and state animal wild bison are among animals proposed to be listed by the Goa government as 'nuisance animals'.
"We have listed several wild species, including wild bore, monkey, wild bison (gaur) and peacock, as nuisance animals. These animals are creating problems for farmers and are destroying their cultivation in rural areas," Agriculture Minister for the state Ramesh Tawadkar told reporters in Margao on Thursday.
The government's decision is likely to evoke strong resentment from the environmentalists as peacock is the national bird and wild bison is declared as a 'protected species' and Goa's state animal. The move may make them vulnerable.
Tawadkar said he is completely aware that the national bird and state animal are part of the list and said government will have to follow a procedure wherein the case has to be prepared which will allow them to be declared as a 'nuisance'.
"We will have to compile the record of how many complaints are received from farmers, of crop destruction by these animals," he said, adding that there are several complaints and it is farmers' demand to declare them as "nuisance animals".
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, during the recently held state legislative Assembly session, had said government will declare monkey and few other animals as 'vermin' (nuisance animals) as they pose a threat of loss to farmers.
Parsekar had also pointed out that cases of monkey fever were reported from certain parts of the state.
