In a significant crackdown on wildlife crime, forest officials in Odisha's Jajpur district apprehended three individuals for allegedly poaching protected migratory birds. The arrest marks the first such case detected in the Dalijodi forest range during the current winter season.
Details of the Arrest and Seizure
The incident occurred on Wednesday in Manatira village, located within the Dalijodi forest range. The forest personnel successfully arrested three local youths, all aged 18 and identified as Dipu Pradhan, Raghubir Pradhan, and Rajkumar Pradhan. Upon searching them, officials made a grim discovery.
They recovered the carcasses of eight little egrets and six pond herons from the accused. According to Satyananda Subudhi, the Forest Range Officer of Dalijodi, preliminary investigations suggest the poachers used a simple yet deadly method. They reportedly trapped the unsuspecting birds by spreading nylon ropes across a pond.
Legal Action and Seasonal Poaching Threat
The three accused have been formally booked under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prohibits the hunting of wild animals listed in the Act's schedules. This arrest highlights the persistent threat faced by avian visitors to the region.
"The migratory birds, while traversing thousands of kilometres, swoop down into the water bodies of Dalijodi forest and its nearby areas. The forest guards patrol the areas to prevent poaching during the season," explained Subudhi. He confirmed that this was the first poaching case detected within the Dalijodi limits this winter, a period when bird populations swell due to migration.
Allegations of Widespread Poaching and Official Inaction
However, environmental activists paint a picture of a more widespread and systemic problem. Sudhanshu Parida, an environmentalist and secretary of the district unit of Peoples for Animals, levelled serious allegations. He stated that poaching activity intensifies every winter as hundreds of birds arrive, but enforcement remains inadequate.
"Despite patrolling, poachers target avian species. Many local youths kill birds for meat delicacies. Poaching picks up pace in many villages under the very nose of forest officials," Parida alleged. He further claimed that people are often seen hunting rare birds in the evenings and that bird meat is even served in local roadside dhabas and hotels. He also raised concerns about collusion, suggesting that some poachers operate with the backing of staff from the forest department and local administration.
Parida highlighted another dangerous method employed by trappers: the use of poison in wetlands. He warned that consuming birds killed by poison poses severe health risks to consumers. Despite these grave allegations, he noted that the forest department maintains its stance that drives against bird poaching are ongoing.
The arrest of the three youths is a step towards enforcement, but the claims by activists suggest a deep-rooted challenge that requires sustained vigilance and stronger action to protect India's precious migratory bird populations.
