The wildlife wing of the State Forest Department has resorted to an awareness campaign to help avert the spread of bird flu. Wildlife authorities, in the first phase of the drive, have targeted those who dwell near the Chilika Lake and are most likely to contract the disease due to the large number of migratory birds in the lake.
The department has engaged 20 wildlife official teams to mobilise masses and spread awareness.
Chilika Wildlife Division has made hoteliers and dhaba owners part of the campaign and has already spoken to 80 such dhaba owners. The officials also conducted meetings with dhaba owners and hoteliers in small groups to educate them about the killer Highly Potential Avian Influenza (HPAI) that has led to many casualties, both humans and birds, in China.
A senior research officer of the wildlife wing, Dr Sudhakar Kar, said that the Government must take initiative to stop poaching of birds since local bird poachers cater to hotels and dhabas around Chilika.
Last winter, 12,000 birds were poached in Chilika. However, forest officials could recover only 150 poached birds and arrested about 12 poachers.
