24x7 mobile squad revived to monitor frog poaching

MARGAO: The office of the deputy conservator of forests (DCF), South Goa, has constituted two patrol squads tasked with cracking down on illegal poaching of frogs. The two teams will work in shifts and will be headed by the round forester.
Range forest officer Siddesh Gawde told TOI that the mobile squad office at Margao will remain functional round-the-clock. Complaints with regards to illegal poaching of frogs can be notified to the mobile squad on 0832-2750246, Gawde said.
The patrolling teams will keep a strict vigil on fields and water bodies which are vulnerable to frog poaching activities. The spots where clandestine frog poaching activities take place have already been identified by the forest department. In Salcete, sources said, frog poaching is rampant in the fields at Arlem, Raia, Gudi, Paroda, Sao Jose de Areal, Colva, among other places.
The forest department has already commenced the exercise of issuing notices to bars and restaurants warning them against cooking and serving frog meat to their guests. The forest department conducts random raids on bar and hotels during the monsoon. Action against violators includes sealing of premises.
The forest department will also conduct awareness drives in schools to propagate the message about conservation of frogs.
Indian bullfrogs are a protected species under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Poaching of frogs attracts Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, that prescribes a minimum punishment of three years imprisonment.