Jhanjoritola in Ratua block has several species of migratory birds visiting every year, including the bar-headed goose.

Samiran Jha, a Malda school teacher and member of Green People's India says, "Poaching is a major problem in this area. teals, coots, bar-headed geese and various other species of ducks frequent this area. Poachers use nets and poisoned puffed rice to kill the birds."

The banks along the Ganga flowing through Malda have traditionally been a favourite haunt for migratory birds. Thousands of birds arrive each winter to the section between north Malda's Ratua and Kaliachak-III in the south.

Kallol Majumder of Green People's India said "Rare ducks like the greylag goose, rudy shelduck and little grebe have been sighted at Ratua, Manikchak and Farakka in the last few years. But of late, poachers have made inroads into the area and are killing these rare species." He claimed scores of bar-headed geese and black headed ibis were killed in Ratua this season.

This market of birds involves huge amount of money, which naturally lures the local mafia. Congress leader Soumitra Roy of Ratua conceded that some of his party members were involved in the act. "Some of our men are also involved in poaching. Earlier, it was an adventure with their guns but now it has become a big business. We have informed the police and forest department," he said.

While some birds are netted for illegal trade, others are killed to meet the demand for exotic bird meat. "There is a huge demand from customers in Malda town for exotic meat. Despite informing the forest department about the killings, no action has been taken," rued Jha.

"It is barbaric. More security should be enforced and the locals should be educated about the value of these rare species. The district forest department is still reluctant. They need to be more proactive," said Kanad Baidya, an avid birder and junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College.

Areas like Nayabandh, Habibpur, Sagar Dighi (English Bazar block) also face such problems. Malda district forest officer Ajay Dubey said security has been tightened after he received information about poaching from the birding community. "The area guards are alert and we keep patrolling the entire day but we haven't spotted any poaching as yet," said Dubey.

Apart from poaching, migratory birds in this region are also facing trouble from wetland encroachment.