All air gun holders of Kakching district has been told to report to nearby forest office at the earliest, Kakching Range Forest Officer Naorem Munal Meitei said during a drive conducted at Lousi Pat by the Kakching District Forest officials on Monday.
Munal said eight bird nets were seized and three dead birds were found during the drive.
"We felt pride earlier when any bird nets were not found in the drive conducted since November 1 in the major wetlands of Kakching district. But it is very shameful that bird nets were seized and some dead birds were found on Monday when the drive was conducted at Lousi pat," he said.
The forest official reiterated that an amount of Rs 10,000 will be rewarded to anybody who can inform the act of bird poaching and killing wildlife animals at the wetlands located within Kakching district.
Saying it is very unfortunate for all of us that there is less number of migratory birds being seen during this season, Munal pointed out that it will be a great challenge for the state with lesser number of migratory birds seen even in mid November. It is due to the farming activities and cultivating of fish at wetlands, he said.
"We should join hands in protecting the wetlands at any cost and the localities who are residing near the wetlands have more important role in safeguarfing the wetlands. If we don't take timely precaution, our precious gifts of Mother Earth will be extinct soon," Munal added.
Stating that the forest department has been taking serious view against bird poachers, farm owners and air gun holders of Kakching district and it will continue in the days to come, Munal ordered all air gun holders of the district to report to nearby forest office at the earliest.
An airgun was picked up for verification from Patpal village during the Monday's drive.
