Mystery shrouds the death of birds, including Pelicans, an endangered migratory species, at Sakkarakottai tank here.
Forest officials of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP), ornithologists and veterinarians visited the spot on Sunday based on information that some birds were found dead in the tank. Pelicans and egrets were among the birds found dead.
Though there were no noticeable wounds in the body of the birds, the stomach part of all birds seem to be cut. It is suspected that they might have died three days ago. It was in the same season and the same spot last year that migratory birds were found dead. It was then suspected that they were poisoned to death. Though there was no report of death of migratory birds since April last year, the issue has come to the fore again.
Enquiries with boys in the locality revealed that the birds might have been poisoned again. Gangs involved in poaching of birds usually follow such a practice whenever migratory birds visit the tank — from January to April every year. The modus operandi of the gang is to mix poisonous chemicals in a few tanks where migratory birds arrive in large numbers. Fish in that area would die within moments. Birds that eat the dead fish would fall unconscious and subsequently picked up by the gang. The gang members would sell the birds after removing the dead fish from its stomach.
M. Sundarakumar, Wildlife Warden, GMMNP told The Hindu that though the post mortem report was yet to be received, it seemed that it could be the repeat of last year's episode. Officials had been directed to monitor activities of poachers in the area. It was a serious crime under the Wildlife Protection Act. Tough action would be taken against those indulged in poaching.
Officials had been alerted to monitor the Mela Selvanoor-Keela Selvanoor bird sanctuary and other sanctuaries in the district to prevent such incidents, he said.
