Bengaluru: Is China spying in India? This suspicion was sparked among locals in Karnataka after a migratory seagull fitted with a made-in-China GPS tracking device was found along Karwar coast. This coast is close to the INS Kadamba naval base, one of the Indian Navy’s most strategic installations that houses key warships, including aircraft carriers and submarines.
Locals spotted the device attached to the bird’s back near Timmakka Garden in the Uttara Kannada district, the India Today reported. Thereafter, the locals alerted the forest department’s marine division.
The report claims that officials have found that the GPS tracker belongs to the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Seagull with Chinese GPS Tracker Found Near #Karwar Naval Base in #Karnataka
A migratory seagull fitted with a GPS tracking device from the Chinese Academy of Sciences was discovered by locals on the Karwar coast. The bird was found near the INS Kadamba naval base,
1/2 pic.twitter.com/DoftLLFqxr
— Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) December 18, 2025
Researchers commonly use such tracking devices to study the movement patterns, feeding behaviour, and migration routes of migratory birds, such as seagulls, the India Today report states, citing forest officers.
“The Forest Department’s coastal marine cell found the bird and is currently conducting an inquiry. We are coordinating with them,” senior police officer, Karwar, Deepan MN told India Today.
The data retrieved from the device indicates that the seagull flew over 10,000 km, including across Arctic regions, before reaching the Karnataka coast, according to a report published in the TOI.
It is uncertain whether the device was for research purpose or spying. Forest department officials, as quoted by India Today, said the device might be a part of a research project. However, the device will be sent for technical examination, the report states. The officials have also contacted the Chinese institute to ascertain the details about the device.
In November 2024, a war eagle fitted with a tracking device was spotted near Baithkol port in Karwar, India Today reported. However, nothing suspicious was found and it was concluded that the case was linked to wildlife research.