by MINOO FERNANDES | NT NETWORK
MARGAO: Frog meat is a delicacy which is much in demand and is favoured by many, particularly the residents of Salcete taluka, who usually go out into the paddy fields and hilly terrains in search of these amphibians during the monsoons.
It is often said that one can get a bumper ‘harvest’ of frogs on the first three days from the arrival of the monsoons, and that the frogs can be easily trapped, as there is little water in the fields and hills.
Sources disclosed that there is still a large number of frog population in the hilly terrains of Quepem, Sanguem, Sanvordem and Canacona and since the number of frogs in the coastal areas has dwindled drastically, those who love frog meat take a journey during the night hours on two wheelers or four wheelers to the hilly areas and manage to hunt and trap frogs for consumption. Some youngsters said that night time is the best time to dodge the law enforcing authorities, informing that they set out late in the night and return with frogs in the wee hours of the morning, when the lawmen are nowhere to be seen.
Many residents of villages like Varca, Carmona, Benaulim, Navelim, Orlim, Colva, Cavelossim etc, said that one could find frogs in the paddy fields of these villages in the 70s, however, the number began falling down after that due to indiscriminate hunting and also due to the use of artificial fertilisers during farming activities.
Quite a number of farmers themselves from Colva, Majorda, Betul, Velim, Benaulim, Varca, Ambelim etc said that the toxins from the fertilisers used by the farmers in the paddy fields for cultivation of their crops has been mainly responsible for killing the bull frog, which otherwise would be found in large numbers in the paddy fields of Salcete’s coastal belt.
Milagres Pereira, a 65-year-old resident of Betalbatim said, "There are no frogs found now in the paddy fields. If at all these species is found anywhere, it is only in the water bodies like lakes and ponds."
Another farmer from Majorda, Mr Inocent Costa, said that when he was younger, there were plenty of frogs in the wells in the paddy fields. Today, he said the story is quite different and what one finds now is garbage in the paddy fields. He was of the opinion that frogs prefer not to live in such a filthy environment.
However, a visit to the popular hangouts and the market place revealed that if one was willing to pay a few extra bucks, then there were plenty of frog dishes available. Some villagers informed that in certain areas eating frog meat was a sign of affluence. It is said that sailors or ‘shippies’ often used to take their entire family out for an evening to a restaurant serving frog meat. However, now due to the fear of the law, frog meat is slowly going off the menu.
Strict measures imposed by the Forest Department over frog hunting and an urgent need to protect the frog from extinction has also deterred many educated youngsters from Salcete from consuming frog meat. Also campaigns by some village panchayats, sending a message that the frog is a friend of the farmer, has also slowly brought the hunting of the animal to a stop.
Forest Minister, Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues, speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ said that his department has taken good measures to curb frog hunting activities and that the officers of the department have been instructed to see that the environment and wild life is protected at all costs. He said further that he has instructed the officers of the forest department to see that frogs seized from poachers are set free into favourable environment and that a record is maintained.
Mr M K Shambhu, the deputy conservator of Forests, South Goa, disclosed that the Indian Bull Frog and Jerdon Bull Frog is found in Goa in quite a large number adding that there is also the species of Mabar Gliding and others, besides the toads found in the state. He said that the Indian Bull Frog has been the main target of poachers during monsoons.
He disclosed that 101 frogs which were seized in the raids have been released, in the presence of two panchas and one forest officer, and the locations are not disclosed, so that poachers may not hunt them there. He also said that the department keeps a watch on the frogs at the locations where they are released.
He said that the department has so far conducted raids at Arlem, Quepem and Borda, and that five persons were booked under the relevant Act. He disclosed that in the raid at Borda, 60 frogs were found and rescued.
Mr Shambu said that the awareness raised through the newspapers, advertisement, NGOs etc has been tremendous, and that the frog is now much more protected than before. He also said that restaurants and hotels have been sent notices that they would have to pay heavily if they serve frog meat. The department, he said, is following both methods, creating awareness as well as following the course of law to protect the frog.
