2 poachers held with 9 bird carcasses in Chilika

Berhampur: Poaching of migratory birds in Chilika continues unabated as wildlife personnel on Sunday arrested two persons for killing winged guests in two different places in the lake, the biggest waterfowl habitat in the country.
Nine carcasses of three bird species were seized from the duo, which allegedly killed them on Saturday evening at Barapolia and Balipatapur under the Tangi range of the Chilika Wildlife Division.
The accused were identified as Narahari Bhoi (40) of Panasapada and Ashok Bhoi (24) of Balipatapur, sources said. “The wildlife personnel also seized seven bundles of snares from Narahari. It is suspected that the duo killed the birds through these snares,” said Choodarani Murmu, range officer, Tangi wildlife range.
“The anti-poaching staff arrested Narahari while he was killing the birds in the lake at Barapolia and seized four carcasses of cotton teal and a large whistling duck. Ashok was arrested from Balipatapur after he poisoned the birds. Four carcasses of cotton coot were seized from him,” Murmu added.
The carcasses were buried after post-mortem. The wildlife personnel detected both the cases on the same day after patrolling in and outside the lake was intensified to prevent bird poaching on New Year. Poachers were active in the lake due to high demand of meat of aquatic birds in the nearby towns on the occasion.
So far, wildlife officials have registered eight bird poaching cases, arrested six poachers and seized 65 bird carcasses in the current season.
Sarat Kumar Mishra, assistant conservator of forest, Chilika Wildlife Division, said: “Patrolling was intensified in and outside the lake on the New Year eve. Police also conducted patrolling. Twenty anti-poaching camps have been set up in the lake.”
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