'Many species adding to W-Ghats' bio-diversity still unknown'

Several species which exist in the Western Ghats of Goa are yet to be identified, though every year, new species are discovered by wildlife experts, a senior forest official said here today.
"Not only that the biodiversity of the Ghats is second to none, so many species which are not discovered till now exist here. We have discovered caecilians which were hitherto unknown," Chief Wildlife Warden Richard D'Souza told reporters today.
He said that several of species which exist in the Western Ghats contributing to bio-diversity are yet to be known.
D'Souza was speaking while launching a coffee table book on wildlife in Goa in presence of state environment minister Alina Saldanha.

Pointing out that Goa is the only state which has protected its entire Western Ghat through wildlife sanctuaries, D'Souza said that successive governments have helped the department in securing these areas for posterity.
"These jungles not only protect animals but most importantly protect soil and water because all your river system originates in the Ghats. If we damage Ghats, then all our rivers will dry up," he said.

"I often come across people asking me why do you want to save the tiger or cobra when they cause havoc. I say its not about only saving the tiger. Tiger is at the top of the food chain. If you destroy tiger or cobra everything down the line would be affected," D'Souza added.

The coffee table book titled "Bio diversity of Goa - a concise field guide" was unveiled by Saldanha.
She also released the Goa forest newsletter for the month of October 2014.