Patrolling intensified in Chilika to curb bird poaching | Bhubaneswar News
Berhampur: Wildlife personnel have intensified patrolling in the Chilika Lake to safeguard the migratory birds from poachers.
Demand for non-vegetarian items like meat, chicken, egg and fish increase during the New Year’s Day and the next couple of days. There are possibilities of bird poaching in Chilika as demand for the meat of aquatic birds goes up, sources said.
“As poachers generally kill the birds at night and early morning, I have instructed anti-poaching teams to intensify patrolling at night,” said Amlan Nayak, divisional forest officer (DFO), Chilika. Raids on nearby hotels have also been conducted to curb any illegal trade in bird meat.
At least 20 anti-poaching camps have been set up, with deployment of around 80 personnel and three patrol boats. Offshore patrolling continued in Tangi, Rambha, Satapada and Chilika ranges. Wildlife activists also helped in patrolling the lake, the sources said.
“As a part of anti-poaching measures, we are checking fishing boats in the lake and also using a drone camera to monitor hunting activities,” said the DFO. “Checking of suspected vehicles, including fishing boats and motorcycles in and around the area has been intensified,” said Biraja Das, range officer, Tangi.
Wildlife personnel have arrested at least 18 people, including two poachers, in the last two months. A total of 33 carcasses of different birds were recovered, sources said. An estimated 10 lakh winged visitors have arrived in Chilika so far, with more congregating in the Nalabana sanctuary and Tangi area.
Demand for non-vegetarian items like meat, chicken, egg and fish increase during the New Year’s Day and the next couple of days. There are possibilities of bird poaching in Chilika as demand for the meat of aquatic birds goes up, sources said.
“As poachers generally kill the birds at night and early morning, I have instructed anti-poaching teams to intensify patrolling at night,” said Amlan Nayak, divisional forest officer (DFO), Chilika. Raids on nearby hotels have also been conducted to curb any illegal trade in bird meat.
At least 20 anti-poaching camps have been set up, with deployment of around 80 personnel and three patrol boats. Offshore patrolling continued in Tangi, Rambha, Satapada and Chilika ranges. Wildlife activists also helped in patrolling the lake, the sources said.
“As a part of anti-poaching measures, we are checking fishing boats in the lake and also using a drone camera to monitor hunting activities,” said the DFO. “Checking of suspected vehicles, including fishing boats and motorcycles in and around the area has been intensified,” said Biraja Das, range officer, Tangi.
Wildlife personnel have arrested at least 18 people, including two poachers, in the last two months. A total of 33 carcasses of different birds were recovered, sources said. An estimated 10 lakh winged visitors have arrived in Chilika so far, with more congregating in the Nalabana sanctuary and Tangi area.
