Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 10: About 58,097 birds of 64 species visited Hirakud Reservoir in Sambalpur in 2014, forest and environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh told the Assembly Tuesday.
Replying to a question of Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi, Arukh said, “Of 64 bird species, 18 were migratory birds whose number was 43,889.”
To ensure security of birds, the government has formed nine security forces, he said, adding two of them are equipped with two boats at Hirakud Reservoir.
“While four watch towers were erected at Barakhandia, Parvati Tangi, Chourasimala and Buduma, very high frequency (VHF) network system have been adopted for communication among security groups for night time surveillance,” he said adding, locals were urged to coordinate with forest department to counter poaching of birds and nab the culprits.
However, the Wildlife Census Report reveals that the population of winged animals at the reservoir is gradually dwindling during the past couple of years. Around 79,000 birds flocked to the reservoir in 2012-13 as against 64,000 in 2013-14.
However, there is an increase in number of species spotted in the reservoir during these years. About 59 bird species were spotted in 2012-13 as compared to 54 in 2013-14 and 64 in 2014-15.