‘Protect birds from poachers’

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the rampant poaching of rare species of birds at Kelageri and Navaloor lakes, which are the natural habitat of migratory birds. The Nature Research Centre has released the photographs of some individuals poaching birds with airguns in the morning hours here. The migratory bird species like Spoonbills, Openbill Stork, Grey Heron, American White Ibis, Black Ibis, Pin-tailed Duck and others visit these lakes in November-December, as these two lakes are considered safe heavens for them. The residents here complained that the poachers have gunned down the storks and water hens on Wednesday. The centre’s president Harshavardhan Sheelavant said the number of visiting migratory birds had been dwindling by the year mainly due to the shrinking lake bed area and pollution of the lake water. Now, the poaching of the birds has posed a new threat for the birds. The authorities concerned should take up the issue seriously and initiate steps to punish the culprits and safeguard the birds, Mr. Sheelavant said.