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~Save Nature For Future~
~Save Nature For Future~
TODAY'S PAPER » NATIONAL » TAMIL NADU >>COIMBATORE, July 25, 2012
Migratory birds fall victim to hunters at tanks in the city
Some are trapped in fishing nets lowered into the water and others are killed by boys with catapults
Visitors to the city have been killed. They have been targets for quite a while now. And their killings have not drawn the attention of the authorities concerned because they happen to be birds.
Nature enthusiasts say black cormorant, little grebe, little cormorant, darter, egret, heron and other migratory birds that frequent the city’s tanks or wet lands are being killed, trapped, sold for meat for both fun and commercial gain.
This happens quite frequently in tanks in Kurichi, Singanallur, Vellalore, off Thadagam Road and other places as well, says M. Umesh, a nature enthusiast and Kurichi resident.
More so now, when the water level at the tanks is down, adds C.R. Jayaprakash, Charter Member, Salim Ali Naturalists Forum, Coimbatore.
At these tanks, fishermen and those into bird hunting spread fishing net into the water, into which the birds get caught while hunting fish.
As the birds attempt to wriggle out of the net, the hunters grab and kill the birds. Sometimes the hunters also sell the birds to sellers in Ukkadam, Mr. Umesh says.
He alleges that he has seen young boys hunting for fun as well. During mornings as well as evenings, the boys can be seen hunting birds using catapults near Kurichi tank. It is also true of other tanks in and around the city.
Mr. Jayaprakash says that during summer bird hunting is on the increase because with the reduction in water level, fish move around in a small area attracting birds that prey. As more birds congregate, they attract hunters. And this is true of Singanallur tank as well.
He says members of various environment organisations have complained to the authorities concerned but to no avail.
The officials receive the suggestion with the perception that the civil society or environment organisations interfere with their work, are a hindrance and put down suggestions. They initiate no action. So much so that birds that come under Schedule III or IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 are being sold in the open in markets near Ukkadam, he adds.
K. Kalidasan of OSAI says that hunting birds is a serious issue because birds play an important role in wetland conservation by helping vegetation grow. And a few of those birds are also scavengers – meaning, they prey on carcass of birds and animals.
These avian species visit Coimbatore between June and December for nesting and roosting because of the 18 water bodies and ideal breeding climate.
Forest Department sources acknowledge that Tuesday’s incident involving youngsters and habitual offenders hunting cormorant has thrown light on the lack of protective measures and the need to initiate steps to protect the birds.
District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukkarasu says that as and when people come across hunting or attempt to hunt birds, they should inform the same to the District Forest Office at 0422-2456911 or send SMS to 94431 53200 giving the location, to enable the Department to initiate action.
He also says that the Department will post forest guards to patrol the water bodies to check the offenders.
The Department will initiate legal action against the offenders under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as these birds came under various schedules of the Act.
Migratory birds fall victim to hunters at tanks in the city
Some are trapped in fishing nets lowered into the water and others are killed by boys with catapults
Visitors to the city have been killed. They have been targets for quite a while now. And their killings have not drawn the attention of the authorities concerned because they happen to be birds.
Nature enthusiasts say black cormorant, little grebe, little cormorant, darter, egret, heron and other migratory birds that frequent the city’s tanks or wet lands are being killed, trapped, sold for meat for both fun and commercial gain.
This happens quite frequently in tanks in Kurichi, Singanallur, Vellalore, off Thadagam Road and other places as well, says M. Umesh, a nature enthusiast and Kurichi resident.
More so now, when the water level at the tanks is down, adds C.R. Jayaprakash, Charter Member, Salim Ali Naturalists Forum, Coimbatore.
At these tanks, fishermen and those into bird hunting spread fishing net into the water, into which the birds get caught while hunting fish.
As the birds attempt to wriggle out of the net, the hunters grab and kill the birds. Sometimes the hunters also sell the birds to sellers in Ukkadam, Mr. Umesh says.
He alleges that he has seen young boys hunting for fun as well. During mornings as well as evenings, the boys can be seen hunting birds using catapults near Kurichi tank. It is also true of other tanks in and around the city.
Mr. Jayaprakash says that during summer bird hunting is on the increase because with the reduction in water level, fish move around in a small area attracting birds that prey. As more birds congregate, they attract hunters. And this is true of Singanallur tank as well.
He says members of various environment organisations have complained to the authorities concerned but to no avail.
The officials receive the suggestion with the perception that the civil society or environment organisations interfere with their work, are a hindrance and put down suggestions. They initiate no action. So much so that birds that come under Schedule III or IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 are being sold in the open in markets near Ukkadam, he adds.
K. Kalidasan of OSAI says that hunting birds is a serious issue because birds play an important role in wetland conservation by helping vegetation grow. And a few of those birds are also scavengers – meaning, they prey on carcass of birds and animals.
These avian species visit Coimbatore between June and December for nesting and roosting because of the 18 water bodies and ideal breeding climate.
Forest Department sources acknowledge that Tuesday’s incident involving youngsters and habitual offenders hunting cormorant has thrown light on the lack of protective measures and the need to initiate steps to protect the birds.
District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukkarasu says that as and when people come across hunting or attempt to hunt birds, they should inform the same to the District Forest Office at 0422-2456911 or send SMS to 94431 53200 giving the location, to enable the Department to initiate action.
He also says that the Department will post forest guards to patrol the water bodies to check the offenders.
The Department will initiate legal action against the offenders under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as these birds came under various schedules of the Act.
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