Monday, Dec 23, 2002
Monday, Dec 23, 2002 |
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Tamil Nadu-Chennai
By P. Oppili
According to the AAZP Director, P.C.Tyagi, the night watchman on duty patrolled the Point Calimere aviary and other enclosures in the area around midnight. At that time, he saw the all the seven rosy pelicans in the enclosure. But, around 5 a.m. when again he went around, four of the pelicans were found missing from the enclosure, Mr Tyagi said. The zoo authorities said that more than two persons could have scaled the seven-feet compound wall and entered the zoo premises around 3-30 a.m. along with gunny bags. After attacking the pelicans, they would have removed the birds and packed them in the bag. If the birds were injured, there would have been bloodstains at the enclosure. But, there was no such indication. A large patch of forest was located adjoining the rosy pelican enclosure. Even when the night watchman went around the place, the intruders could have hidden themselves behind the bushes. Preliminary investigation revealed that people residing in the nearby villages could not have committed the crime. Already, a few persons were rounded up on suspicion and were handed over to the police, who were interrogating them. Rosy pelicans were not rare birds and most of the zoological parks in the country had an excess population. Whenever the birds were offered on exchange, they fetched only a meagre amount. Even the pelicans at the AAZP were brought to the zoo long ago, they said. Interestingly, this was not the first instance of birds being stolen from the zoo premises. A few years ago, some of the exotic birds such as parakeets, cockatiels and lorikeets were removed from their enclosures, as they were reared as pets. But, the pelicans could have been removed for edible purposes only, the zoo authorities felt. More than the stealing of birds, it was the entry of rowdy elements into the zoo premises, which had shaken up the zoo authorities. Following the incident night patrolling would be increased. Meanwhile, Wildlife Wing officials from the city conducted raids at Avadi, Porur and Kancheepuram on Saturday night. They were able to rescue a few partridges and a monitor lizard, while other birds and animals such as egrets, pond and grey herons, cormorants, ducks, quails and hare were killed by the poachers. The authorities arrested nine persons including two women. While the monitor lizard was released into one of the enclosures in the Children's Park, the partridges were released into the Guindy National Park, said the Chennai Wildlife Warden K.S.S.V.P.Reddy.
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