Kanas: In a concerning development, poachers near here in Puri district along the coast of Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, are hunting birds — both migratory and indigenous — by poisoning and adding sedatives to their feed, sources said Monday. This practice of killing birds is spread from Daya river mouth to Makara river mouth via Bhusandpur on the fringes of Kanas block. It is an endless story of horror and killing as poachers in these areas can be seen adding sedatives and poisoning the food to hunt birds.
Thousands of birds are being poached every day by various tactics including shooting, twisting their necks, or poisoning the fish that the birds feed on. Miscreants carrying avian carcasses, even live ones, on bamboo slings or bags and selling them at roadside dhabas and hotels in the pursuit of fast buck has become a usual scene that one’s eyes cannot ignore. However, the Forest officials in these areas are yet to wake up from their slumber and act against these poachers. Lakhs of migratory as well as indigenous birds visit Chilika lake in winter and return after the onset of summer. The famous annual flocking of the birds to the Chilika coast has been possible owing to a favourable and secure ecosystem for them spread across the abundant paddy fields and marshy land here. However, it has been observed that some birds stay back for some more time and feed on the dropped paddy on the farmlands of nearby villages. Various species of birds were seen feeding on the dropped paddy apart from pests and insects on the farmlands of Gopinathpur, Paikamara, Sanaora, Badaora, Og alpur, Gang adhar pur, Dochhian, Alipada, Nuagaon and Deipur villages adjoining the Chilika lake. The birds were also seen surviving on the weeds and water lily fruits growing in Chilika lake.
Taking undue advantage of this, poachers are either laying traps on the farmlands or adding sedatives or poison to the birds’ feed to kill them. Summer season has proved favourable for them in hunting the birds as strict protection measures for the birds are only enforced during the winter by the Tangi Forest department, and bird protection committees at Satapada and Balugaon. Poachers are having a field day nowadays as the strict measures are no longer in place. They are either killing or catching the birds alive and making a quick buck from their sale. Bird lovers and environmentalists have demanded the intervention of the Forest department to take steps to safeguard the winged guests.
