A joint team of Joint Co Ordination Committee on Wildlife and Biodiversity (JCCWB), staff of range forest office, Thoubal and Thoubal commando personnel took into custody a birdcatcher who was caught red-handed in the act from Khangabok Keipha paddy fields on Thursday.
Convenor of JCCWB Ningthoujam Romesh said that the birdcatcher has been identified as Md Kurbash Khan, 27, a resident of Sangaiyumpham part-II, Karanchi Makha Leikai, and he is currently in the lock-up of Thoubal police station.
Besides a total of 25 dead birds, 14 live birds were rescued from his possession. The weak birds have been handed over to People for Animals (PFA) Manipur for first aid and medical treatment while the dead birds were disposed of at a suitable place, Romesh said.
Condemning the act of catching birds, Romesh further stated that it is illegal to kill birds for meat or trap them for rearing at homes. “Mother Earth is also the home of all, including wild animals and birds. We should protect them at any cost and make the planet a safe haven for these poor creatures,” he added.
