Forest department cautions of legal action against bird trapping

Imphal: Kakching range forest officer Naorem Munal Meitei has cautioned farmland owners in Kakching district that legal action will be taken against them if bird traps found laid at their farms.

The caution was made on during anti-bird poaching drive at water bodies of the district for protection of migratory and wild birds.

The staff of forest department under Kakching Range launched the drive on Wednesday.

A team of the department seized eight bird nets and rescued five Whistling Teal birds, locally known as Tingri, that were found trapped in the nets at Loushi Pat near Sora village on the first day of the drive.

The rescued birds were released safely near Kharungpat buffalo farm.

The team was led by Kakching range forest officer Naorem Munal Meitei and Beat Office Pallel BO Md Sallauddin along with Kakching Range and BO Pallel staff.

Migratory birds have started visiting the state with the onset of winter. It is a heinous crime to catch or kill the migratory birds. The department has started anti-bird poaching drive in major water bodies of the district to protect them, Munal said.

He said the drive will be continued especially at the lake areas of Kakching district.

The department will start taking up strong action against who trap migratory birds, he said and appealed to the farmland owners not to allow setting up of bird traps in their farmlands.

He said the farmland owners are liable to send to jail for three months or pay a fine of Rs 25,000 or both if bird traps are found in their farms.

He appealed to the people to love the migratory birds and have sympathy for them.