Poaching of migratory birds alleged in Pong Wetland area

On spotting feathers of dead migratory birds suspected to be killed by poachers in different locations of the Pong Wetland area under the Nagrota Surian Wildlife range has peeved local bird lovers and environmentalists. They have alleged poaching of migratory as well as resident birds by some unidentified poachers and also criticised the wildlife wing authorities of the Forest Department for inaction against offenders.

No reports of poaching of birds in the Pong Wetland area have been received. For the past two years, arrival of local bird Jackal has increased manifold in the wetland which kills migratory as well as resident birds for its food. The field staff is taking action against offenders who are illegally ploughing the Pong Wetland Sanctuary land.

Reginald Royston, Divisional Forest Officer, Hamirpur wildlife division

Local environmentalists and birds’ lovers — MR Sharma, Lekh Raj and Ujagar Singh — have captured a number of pictures of heaps of bird feathers lying at different spots near Nagrota Surian. They have appealed to the wildlife authorities to be vigilant and take action against poachers so that migratory birds could spend their winter sojourn without poaching.

They alleged that so far, the authorities had taken no concrete steps either to save birds from poachers or stop illegal cultivation of land despite Supreme Court orders in this connection.

Environmentalists pleaded that some migratory and resident birds (vegetarian) were taking their food from fresh growing grass on the wetland sanctuary land. Influential persons had illegally ploughed this land for cultivation and destroyed fresh grass, they alleged.

A petition filed by one local environmentalist is under consideration in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against illegal cultivation of Pong Wetland land. The state high court has also taken up the issue of illegal activity seriously. Another petition is also under consideration in the court.

When contacted, Reginald Royston, Divisional Forest Officer, Hamirpur wildlife division, said he had no reports of poaching of birds in the Pong Wetland area. When asked about spotting birds feathers at different locations under Nagrota Surian wildlife range, Royston said for the past two years arrival of local bird Jackal had increased manifold in the Pong Wetland which killed migratory as well as resident birds for its food. He denied any poaching of birds in the area, while adding that the field staff was taking action against offenders who were illegally ploughing the Pong Wetland Sanctuary land.