The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Dead birds seized in Pallikaranai marshland

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Dead birds seized in Pallikaranai marshland

By P. Oppili

Carcasses of egrets and pond herons seized at Pallikaranai on Sunday. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI, DEC. 19. Wildlife officials seized 45 dead birds, including cattle egrets, little egrets and pond herons, from a gypsy (narikorava) in the Pallikaranai marshland, south of Chennai, on Sunday.

Two country-made guns were also seized from the narikorava. Cases have been registered against the arrested person, Thulukkanam of Kotturpuram, under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

The arrest was made following complaints from local residents that wild birds were being poached in the marshland.

According to K.S. Sathyamoorthy, Headquarters Wildlife Range Officer, the narikoravas had located a spot in the marshland, well away from the main road to trap the birds. They lured the birds by putting dead birds on a stick, while hiding in the typha reed overgrowth.

It is reported that the narikoravas sell the birds in the Saidapet, Velachery and Porur markets.

But due to regular raids on the markets, the birds are now sold near liquor shops. Jayashree Vencatesan, Joint Director, Care Earth, a biodiversity research organisation, says poachers enter the marsh from the Medavakkam side. Though it is difficult to wade through slush and overgrowth, narikoravas are adept at it.

Last week, the officials received information that a person was seen shooting birds in the marshland. But the man managed to escape.

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