Mahakalapara: The abandoned World Bank wetland inside the Gahirmatha forest area of Kendrapara district have emerged as a major winter haven for migratory birds arriving from distant regions, prompting conservationists to call for greater awareness to protect them from poaching and poisoning.
Birds from the Himalayan foothills, Siberia and other cold regions of Asia migrate thousands of kilometres to the World Bank Point coastal stretch every winter in search of food and a safe habitat. The wetland, comprising hundreds of abandoned ponds, provides abundant food such as small fish, crabs, snails and shellfish, making the area ideal for their seasonal stay of nearly three months.
While the birds forage in the ponds during the day, they take shelter at night in the nearby dense mangrove and salt-tolerant forests. Large flocks can be seen gathering in the wetlands before sunset.
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The area has a unique history. In the 1990s, more than 500 hectare of forest land was excavated under a shrimp farming project funded jointly by the state Fisheries department and the World Bank, with an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore, aimed at improving local livelihoods. However, the project was abandoned after the 1999 Super Cyclone and the ponds have remained unused ever since.
Over the past few years, the deserted wetland has naturally transformed into a safe haven for birds. Several species of migratory birds, including bar-headed geese, ruddy shelducks, pintails, shovelers, gadwalls, sandpipers, stilts and other waterfowl, are now regularly sighted in the area.
Similar congregations of resident and migratory birds are also reported from nearby forest and delta regions such as Hukitola, Lunchghola, Batighar, Madali, Heta Mundia, Kandara Patia forest, Kantilo reserve forest and Tanda casuarina forests in the Mahanadi delta.
Local intellectuals and environmentalists, including Subas Swain, Laxmikanta Swain and Biranchi Narayan Das, have expressed concern that the birds could fall victim to illegal poisoning and poaching. They have urged authorities to strengthen vigilance and promote awareness among local communities.
Rajnagar Divisional Forest Officer Varadaraj Gaonkar said the Forest department would take special measures to ensure the protection of migratory birds and their habitats in the region.
