PANAJI: In an attempt to prevent hunting of frogs and maintain ecological balance through preventive measures, the forest department has intensified vigil and its officials have been carrying out regular patrolling all over the state during the nights and half a dozen cases have been booked against equal number of people in both the districts of the state and over a hundred bullfrogs were rescued from captivity and released in nature.

The additional principal chief conservator of forests, Dr Shashi Kumar informed The Navhind Times that he has been personally relaying information received by him to his officers for action against those catching frogs for serving the same as delicacy in their restaurants or selling them to "hoteliers". He said that legal action was being taken against those involved in hunting frogs.

He further said that action was being carried out against perpetrators of crime in co-operation with the environmentally conscience people and non-governmental organisations involved in saving frogs. He said that killing frogs for whatever reason would cause harm to the ecosystem and as such they should be saved from the hunters.

The deputy conservator of forests (North territorial division), Mr G T Kumar said that a case has been booked against two persons and two motorcycles seized by the forest officials after it was found that they were involved in frog hunting and a few bullfrogs were seized from them in a raid conducted at their residence. Besides, some other persons have also been probed for being involved in frog hunting, he added.

In South Goa, the forest officials have conducted raids at various places and around half a dozen cases against a number of people for frog hunting, said DCF (South Territorial range), Mr Mahesh Kumar Shambhu. He also said that over 100 frogs recovered from houses and from the captivity of various people after forest officials carried out raids at Nuvem, Arlem, Borda and Quepem.

He further said that killing frogs and consuming their meat was an age-old habit in Goa and that the department officials were trying hard to convince people against this practice in order to save nature and ecology from destruction. He said the efforts from forest department have yielded positive result and many people have stopped consuming frog meat. He also said that concerted efforts would surely yield results in days to come.