Kakching Range Forest officials including its forest beat staff conducted its continuous drive to save migratory birds in the wetlands of Kakching district in the wee hours of Tuesday.
During the drive, search operations were conducted at the main areas of Khoidumpat, Lamjao Maningpat and Pumlenpat and looked for bird trapping nets and poachers.
Later, discussions with local people were also held by keeping focus on saving migratory birds.
Regarding the drive, assistant conservator of Forest Naorem Munal Meitei told the media that Kakching district has more wetlands than any other districts.
As a result of the drives being conducted by the forest officials and with support from the locals, there has been no report of bird trapping in the past few months in these wetlands. However, a reliable source informed the forest officials that with the coming of election time, some bird catchers are wandering around the wetlands. Thus, the drive was conducted, beginning from midnight of Tuesday. It was very fortunate that no bird nets were found during the drive, Munal added.
“The number of migratory birds coming into our wetlands was found very low during this current season and this was very unfortunate for all of us,” he expressed.
The Kakching Range Forest officials have been conducting awareness campaigns and hoarding wall posters to save migratory birds and wildlife animals for the last 10 years, he said. Although there are laws to save migratory birds and several attempts are being made by the forest officials to save them, it is impossible to save all the migratory birds and others without the help of locals who reside near the wetlands, Munal said.
“We should join hands to save migratory birds and wildlife animals and make our state a better place for our future generations where the sweet sounds of animals and birds echo the air with freedom,” he added.
