<p>Goa does not have any resident tigers and the big cats spotted in Goa are originally from the forests of Karnataka, state Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.</p>.<p>Rane's comments come in wake of resistance by villagers residing in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, located in North Goa, who have opposed a tiger enumeration survey conducted by the state forest department.</p>.<p>"I have been hearing about the tiger for the last few days. The tiger enters Goa through a corridor before exiting (the state). There are no resident tigers. There is no need to set up a tiger reserve in Goa and as long as I am minister there is no question of a tiger reserve," Rane said in an interaction with media persons. The forest minister was asked about the government's position on upgrading the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve.</p>.<p>"We have not found a resident tiger in Goa. The information I have sourced from the forest department indicates that the tigers come in from Karnataka along the Mollem border, the Western Ghats serves as a natural corridor, and they exit. There is no resident tiger established in Goa. That is a fact," the forest minister said.</p>.<p>Tigers have not just been steeped in Goan mythology and folklore, but have also been a source of controversy over the last decade and more.</p>.<p>In 2009, one female tiger was virtually cut into half at the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, after it got snared into a metal trap. Just two years ago, four tigers, including cubs were poisoned to death, resulting in a series of arrests in the same sanctuary.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>Goa does not have any resident tigers and the big cats spotted in Goa are originally from the forests of Karnataka, state Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.</p>.<p>Rane's comments come in wake of resistance by villagers residing in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, located in North Goa, who have opposed a tiger enumeration survey conducted by the state forest department.</p>.<p>"I have been hearing about the tiger for the last few days. The tiger enters Goa through a corridor before exiting (the state). There are no resident tigers. There is no need to set up a tiger reserve in Goa and as long as I am minister there is no question of a tiger reserve," Rane said in an interaction with media persons. The forest minister was asked about the government's position on upgrading the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve.</p>.<p>"We have not found a resident tiger in Goa. The information I have sourced from the forest department indicates that the tigers come in from Karnataka along the Mollem border, the Western Ghats serves as a natural corridor, and they exit. There is no resident tiger established in Goa. That is a fact," the forest minister said.</p>.<p>Tigers have not just been steeped in Goan mythology and folklore, but have also been a source of controversy over the last decade and more.</p>.<p>In 2009, one female tiger was virtually cut into half at the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, after it got snared into a metal trap. Just two years ago, four tigers, including cubs were poisoned to death, resulting in a series of arrests in the same sanctuary.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>