--18 held, over 100
bodies of birds seized
BHUBANESWAR: Chilika,
which is known as a hot spot for migratory birds in winter season, is now
facing a new danger from seasonal bird hunters.
Migratory birds are
under threat as these hunters keep hobnobbing in the largest brackish water
lake of Asia and using new tricks to poach the avian species.
Forest officials said
the hunters mix poison in the bud of lily flowers in the lake to kill the
birds. They also use some traditional and modernised nets to capture the birds.
This dirty and
dangerous trick of the hunters came to light after the Tangi forest range
officers arrested one Arun Kaleshi for hunting birds near famous bird hub
Mangalajodi area. Kaleshi confessed that he was using these tricks to capture
dozens of birds in the lake.
Arrest of 18 bird
hunters by the forest officials this season showed that poaching has been high
in the region. The forest officials also seized six boats and more than 100
birds from the hunters’ possession.
According to Tangi
forest range officer Ashok Kumar Das, the forest staff arrested Kaleshi and
seized around 23 bodies of birds from his possession. “We have 17 base camps
and engaged 70 employees to keep close vigil on poaching in the lake,” said
Das. Environmentalists demanded that early steps be taken for the safety of the
migratory birds in the lake.
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