Trapped birds and stranded animals, including one rare barn owl, were rescued and released into its habitats in Manipur hills on Friday. The Joint Coordination Committee on Wildlife and Biodiversity (JCCWB), Manipur handed over the rescued stranded animals to the forest department.
As per JCCWB convenor Ningthoujam Romesh, one Hirom Gokhale of Heingang Makha Leikai rescued a barn owl on May 25 while some miscreants were trying to kill it and he handed over the bird to the JCCWB. The same was released on Friday at Heingang hill range by the JCCWB team along with Gokhale himself.
Meanwhile, an infant slow loris was handed over to JCCWB by one Warepam Chanda Chanu from Yairipok Bamol Leikai. She spotted the animal lying at the foot of a roadside tree while she was out on a morning walk.
An expert team visited the spot where the animal was found, the team could not trace the mother of the little slow loris. It was suspected that the mother could have been caught by poachers. As the little slow loris was an infant, JCCWB handed over it to Thoubal Forest division.
On Thursday, the locals of Heirok Part (I) Heitup-pokpi Leikai rescued one pregnant deer and handed it over to Heirok police station. Later, a team of Thoubal forest officials along with members of JCCWB took custody of the deer. Under the supervision of district forest officer, Thoubal, staffs of Central Forest Division along with JCCWB members released it safely at its habitat at Langol Reserved Forest.
Meanwhile, a team of Thoubal police led by deputy SP (Ops) Thoubal A Khelendro along with members of JCCWB seized 14 bird trapping nets that were spotted at Sangaiyumpham Mayai Lambi near KVK office Wangbal on Friday morning. The team rescued six birds trapped in the net and released them later. The seized nets were handed over to DFO Thoubal for further necessary action.
Romesh further appealed to the department concerned for close monitoring and scrutinizing the root cause on rising stranded animals. The committee will also look into the matter, he added.
