AHMEDABAD: The forest officials including deputy conservator of forests, Sasi Kumar were shocked to find remains of birds which were poached or killed in the past 12 months. The department also found that huge Typha grass, about seven to eight feet tall was used as a hiding place from the patrolling teams.
Officials said that the forest department has decided to take up a massive grass cutting operation in the months to come and is now devising a strategy to curb such incidents of poaching.
The lake is known for its aquatic floral species like Typha angustata (known locally as Gha-bajariyu) Bakheda, Gondaro, Dilo, Chigo, Thek, Kando among others. Officials said a massive search operation was carried out for four hours in the Ranagarh village by the department. The officials searched the dumping site of the village and found beaks, wings, legs of these exotic birds.
"This is an indication that poaching was rampant in the area. This was not only for trade but even for consumption by the locals," said a senior officer. The entire matter came to light when the department recovered a flock of 60 Coots trapped, with their legs and wings broken to prevent them from taking flight. The forest officials nabbed two people from Ranagarh village in Ahmedabad district. The arrested included Kadar Khamasa and Valli Mohammed. , residents of Jambu village in Limbdi taluka of Surnedranagar. The two were into illegal trade of these winged visitors.
