Post News Network
Angul, Dec 27: Villagers of Kantapada under Athamallik block in Angul district have done what would clearly qualify as a unique example in
expressing their love for avians and working towards their protection.
They have declared two ponds, Domuhani and Khajurijoda, in the village as aviaries (Pakshi Vihar) for visiting birds. Not just that, they have also formed two separate outfits to protect the visiting birds from the prying eyes of the poachers. The bid to protect the birds has united the villagers of all age groups and from all communities in a single chord.
Sources said the village has two large water
bodies — Domuhani spread over five acres of land and Khajurijoda spread over three acres. Water birds of various species, including kingfisher, egret, cormorants, little grebe, greylag goose, Asian open bill, regularly throng the two ponds over the past three years, making them must-visit places for bird lovers.
However, earlier, poachers have killed several birds resulting in decline in their numbers,
prompting villagers to unite to protect birds.
The villagers have formed the Pakshi Surakshya Manch, with green activist Biren Kumar Pradhan as its president and Prabin Kumar Pradhan as its secretary, with several villagers holding various posts in the Manch. Similarly, for effective implementation of their various programmes on bird protection, the villagers have formed the Pakshi Surakshya Bahini, a frontal organization, headed by Gagan Pradhan.
Both the outfits work in close coordination with each other in cleaning the ponds, protecting the
embankments and creating resting sites for the
visiting birds. The outfits have put up warning signs for poachers near the two ponds and have taken up an awareness drive on bird protection.
