In a significant crackdown on wildlife crime, officials from the Chilika wildlife division apprehended a 27-year-old man on Monday afternoon for allegedly shooting at migratory birds within the Chilika Lake sanctuary. The accused, identified as Shekh Mustak from Maluda in Puri district, was captured by patrolling staff near Siandi, under the Chilika range.
Seized Evidence and Protected Species
During the arrest, wildlife personnel conducted a search and made critical discoveries. From Mustak's possession, they confiscated the carcasses of two birds, a motorcycle, and a country-made gun loaded with three bullets. The deceased birds were later identified as a little egret (Egretta garzetta) and a cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis). Both species are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, making their hunting a serious offence. The accused failed to produce any legal documents authorizing possession of the gun or the birds.
A Pattern of Enforcement in Chilika
This incident marks the third case registered under the Wildlife Protection Act by Chilika officials in just a fortnight, highlighting both the persistent threat of poaching and the intensified vigilance by authorities. Earlier, on November 18, another suspect was arrested from the Dochin and Deipur areas in the Tangi range with a haul of 44 dead birds. Subsequently, on November 25, a 65-year-old fisherman was arrested for illegally entering the restricted sanctuary area for fishing. A fibre boat, a 9 HP motor engine, and 11 nets were seized from him.
Zero-Tolerance Stance Against Poachers
Amlan Nayak, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Chilika wildlife division, emphasized their ongoing commitment to protecting the lake's avian population. He stated that strict vigil is being maintained through regular patrolling to curb poaching incidents. The division has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards such illegal activities. To bolster these efforts, twenty-one temporary anti-poaching camps have been strategically established across the lake. These camps are slated to remain operational until the end of March, covering the peak season for migratory birds in this, the country's largest waterfowl habitat.
