Dense fog fuels migratory bird poaching in Tarai region

The Pioneer , Thursday, January 07, 2010
Correspondent : Rajendra S Markuna | Haldwani

Amid thick fog accompanied by cold winds, the spate in poaching of migratory birds in Tarai region of Kumaon has put forest officials on their toes.

After six water birds and a peacock were killed in Kishanganj Range, the Tarai East Forest Division has mobilised its entire staff to keep an eye on local villagers, who resort to poaching to make quick money during this season.

Though, recently two incidents of bird poaching have come to light, forest officials opine that cases of poaching may go up in this season as when temperatures remain low, icy winds amid thick fog make it difficult to maintain vigil in and around the area.

This season comes as an ideal opportunity for poachers to kill birds for trading purposes, said DFO Tarai East Vivek Pandey, while talking to The Pioneer in an exclusive interview.

He added that not only poaching but other activities like wood smuggling go up during this season. “We have alerted our entire vigilance network. Even, the weekly holidays of officials have been cancelled so that proper vigilance can be maintained,” he added.

A variety of migratory birds from distant Siberian region migrate to Tarai belt to take shelter from sub-zero temperature of Siberian region. The birds start coming here from October every year and stay till February. Up to January, the poaching threat continues due to adverse climatic conditions. Yet the interesting fact is that despite a lot of environmental hazards like urbanisation, deteriorating climatic conditions and more importantly increasing number of poaching cases of wildlife, wetlands of Tarai still remain a favorite sojourn for these winter migratory birds.

There are a very few wetlands providing natural habitat to the bird species. Nanakmatta dam, Tumaria dam, Haripura dam in Udhamsinghnagar Boar canal in Kaladhungi, Sharda dam and Dhaureda dam in Khatima and other natural water reservoirs also provide such wetlands. Thick forests surrounding these water reservoirs make these regions adjustable for the wild species. But in recent years, due to poaching these places are not so safe.

Among others, Rudy Shell Duck, Common Pochard, Malard, Bar Headed Goose, Tufted Duck, Green Sand Piper to name a few are regular visitors. The wetlands in Tarai are also favoured destinations for them because of availability of necessary food for them. The birds mainly eat fishes, different variety of water-borne grasses, flies and other insects and plants.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/227516/Dense-fog-fuels-migratory-bird-poaching-in-Tarai-region.html
 


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