Every winter, India plays host to avian Siberian guests, as lakhs of crane, mallard and bar-headed goose arrive here to escape the extreme cold. The bar-headed goose is one of the world’s highest-flying birds. Unfortunately, even this bird got captured by poachers in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
A video of this capture had gone viral on social media, where few people were seen carrying Siberian birds, including the bar-headed goose, in the riverbed of the Ganga in the Maharajpur area of Kanpur. The birds seemed to be badly injured with their wings clipped. After this video created an uproar, the forest department and city police immediately swung into action and till now, 11 people, including two minors, have been arrested.
Indian Masterminds interacted with 2013 batch IFS officer and DFO of Kanpur city, Ms. Divya, to know more about this incident, and what initiatives have been taken by the forest department to prevent similar acts in the future.
BIRDS CAPTURED
Now word is going around that poachers keep an eye on the locations where these birds arrive in winter, on the banks of the Ganga river. These birds are captured and sold as meat to some people. Police and forest officials have taken cognizance of this matter and interrogation is on to find out more details. Eleven poachers have been arrested and two minors detained in connection with the viral video, under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Ms. Divya said, “There was no killing. Birds were being caught and taken away. When the videos went viral, the forest department immediately swung into action.”
It has now emerged that a market in Bakarganj area of Kanpur is known for buying and selling of birds. The Forest department raided the market and recovered the Siberian birds seen in the video. Many other migratory birds were also recovered from that place.
The source of the other migratory birds is not yet known but the forest department is looking into it along with the police.
Meanwhile the police have already registered an FIR on this matter. They have also imposed several other sections on the culprits, apart from Wildlife Protection Act (WPA). Except the minors, all others have been sent to jail. Whereas the minors were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).
BIRDS RESCUED
The forest department has managed to rescue many migratory birds from the culprits’ clutches, and their source is being ascertained. The rescued birds include mallard and bar-headed goose.
The bar-headed goose is considered to be one of the world’s highest-flying birds. They have been seen flying above Mount Makalu – the fifth highest mountain on earth at 8,481 m (27,825 ft).
Ms. Divya said, “A Bar Headed Goose’s wings are slightly damaged, but they are all alive. To take care of their health, they have been kept in the zoo and forest officials are constantly keeping an eye on them.”
Besides the migratory birds, several parakeets, mallards, pheasants and quails have also been recovered in large numbers.
THE PROBLEMS
The place from where these birds were caught by the poachers is not a forest area, but a riverbed of the Ganga. “It is neither a reserve forest, nor is it a notified wetland. That is why, none of our staff was on duty there,” the officer said.
After the video went viral, the forest department and police sent teams to patrol in the area. The forest department will now keep an eye on the market, too.
THE INITIATIVES
Ms. Divya said, “These birds migrate in winters from Siberia to India. When winter starts here, there is extreme cold in Siberia and Mongolia. So to escape that, these birds migrate here and go back towards the end of winter. There is no specific area where they stay. They live in forests, riverbeds, and wetlands.”
Hence, it is difficult for the forest department to keep tracking them. But, after this incident, Kanpur Forest Department has taken few initiatives to prevent such acts in the future.
First of all, the forest department published an advertisement in newspapers regarding birds poaching, warning the poachers. It also mentions what action can be taken under WPA, and which sections will be imposed on the culprits. A number is also given – 7839435162 for people to contact if they see any activity like poaching or catching of birds anywhere.
Apart from this, the department in collaboration with some NGOs is going to organize awareness camps from village to city. Through this initiative, all the areas with wetlands will also be identified, and people will be educated about the wetlands and the migratory birds.
Ms. Divya said, “We are gong to start these camps in a few days. I hope that people will become more aware and vigilant after this.”
