Cotigao: The demand to declare Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve has gained momentum after fresh sightings of the wild cat. At least two locals have given their testimony to have seen the Tiger roaming in Cotigao wildlife sanctuary.

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar has said that the sighting of pug marks in absence of camera trap method can be used as a conclusive evidence to prove presence of the wild cat in Cotigao wildlife sanctuary. Kerkar has said that the locals should be trained to preserve the wildlife and this area be declared as Tiger Reserve.

Local Malo Bavadan said that he has personally seen tiger several times walking in the Cotigao wildlife sanctuary. The latest sighting was as recent as some fifteen days back.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwl5mwHfRPo

Another youth Yogesh Desai was also stunned to see the wild cat when he had gone to the forest areas before Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnOHtZqh0ow

Kerkar said that it is known fact that Cotigao wildlife sanctuary is a rich natural habitat which is having forest connecting Hanshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve.

“The time has come to preserve tigers who are at the top of our food chain. We don’t preserve tigers, we wont be able to save our forests and eventually, it will lead to water scarcity,” he said.

kerkar said that the forest department can lay camera traps in November-December to establish the the presence of tigers in this region.