Wildlife Dept wants lake without ducks

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18

Waking up from deep slumber after bird flu was confirmed in one of the domesticated geese, the UT Forest and Wildlife Department has now proposed not to keep domestic ducks at Sukhna Lake.

The proposal will be forwarded to UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil for approval.

Recently, former Additional Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, Gurmeet Singh, had written to the UT Administrator stating that the “release of domestic ducks into Sukhna Lake was a foolish idea”.

UT Chief Conservator of Forests Santosh Kumar said he would take up the issue with senior officials of the UT Administration and the Administrator so that such a situation did not arise in the future. “If anybody releases domestic geese into Sukhna Lake, action will be recommended against that person,” he said.

The late SK Sharma, former president of The Environment Society of India, had introduced six geese in Sukhna Lake on June 5, 1996, during a function organised to celebrate World Environment Day. In 2002, Lt Gen Baljit Singh (retd), a city-based wildlife expert, also joined him and added 25-odd birds to the lake.

Gurmeet Singh, in his letter to the UT Administration, had stated, “The release of domestic ducks into Sukhna lake was a foolish idea. The Central Zoo Authority has already banned keeping of common pigeons, ducks, geese and rabbits in zoos in the country. Under the law, domestic birds/animals cannot be released into sanctuaries/national parks. The wildlife authority is only meant to protect wild animals included in the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972. Domestic birds/animals do not come under the purview of the Act. Moreover, Sukhna Lake attracts a number of species of migratory birds. Any disease that spreads among domestic ducks will also harm migratory birds. The Administration can seek advice, if required, from the Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Wildlife Institute of India or Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai. All geese may immediately be removed,” the letter states.

Tourist attraction

The ducks were one of major attractions for tourists visiting Sukhna Lake.