Poaching Of Winged Guests On In Chilika Lake

Photograph: Sefali Suman

Balugan: Despite all possible measures by the Forest Department to ensure safety of migratory birds in Chilika Lake, rampant poaching of these winged guests, who flock to the lake in thousands during winter, is going unabated.

The Forest employees of Tangi Forest Range have arrested 11 poachers and seized several dead migratory birds from their possession in the last one month.

“Till date we have registered nine cases and arrested 11 poachers, who have been forwarded to the court. We have seized 55 dead migratory birds, four motorcycles, one country-made rifle and a country boat from their possession,” Ranger of Tangi Forest Range, Subash Chandra Behera, told the media here.

“We used to kill these birds either by shooting or applying poison in their habitat. I had laid nail traps in the lake and caught three birds,” said Bhaskar Behera, one of the accused.

For the safety of these migratory birds from Siberia, Malaysia and Mongolia, who arrive at the lake during the onset of winter, the Forest Department had set up 21 base camps in several places inside the lake and intensified patrolling. Despite this, the poachers have managed to kill these exotic birds.

“There has been no poaching of migratory birds in Mangalajodi area of the lake. But poaching continues in its adjoining areas. Due to acute shortage of the forest staff, it is not possible to provide safety to these birds in the vast area of this lake,” member of the Pakhi Suraksha Samiti, Jayakrushna Behera, pointed out.