Listed species birds seized
This Shikra was among the birds rescued from a trapper in Coimbatore on Tuesday.Alerted by scientists from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), activists of OSAI (an environmental organisation) caught a man on Brooke Bond Road in Coimbatore on Tuesday for selling birds that belong to the listed species. President of OSAI, K. Kalidas said that they were alerted by Joseph Reginald and Winny Peter of SACON. OSAI activists M. Ganesh and K.R. Karthikeyan, vice-president and biologist respectively intercepted the person and informed the Forest Department.The District Forest Officer, I. Anwardeen, deputed the Range Officer, A. Soundarrajan who seized the birds and took into custody Manian (50) of Koilpalayam in Coimbatore.Inquiries revealed that the birds belonged to Babblers and Shikra variety. Thirty numbers of White Headed Babblers and nine numbers of Large Grey Babblers were rescued from him. Shikra, a hunting bird, happened to be its nesting season.
On examination, Manian had applied gum on the feathers to prevent them from flying away. The OSAI activists and Forest officials cleaned the gum and released the birds into the Forest College compound. Action would be initiated against the person for capturing and selling such birds from the listed species.The Forest Department has instructed the field level officials to check out for people indulging in such trades.
