A rare white-eyed pochard duck which was trapped in a bird net has been rescued unhurt by a joint team of Join Coordination Committee on Wildlife and Biodiversity (JCCWB), Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Committee (WBCC) Manipur and Unique Wildlife and Preservation Committee (UWLPC) Manipur on the wee hours of Monday from Ikop Pat, a wetland located in Thoubal district.
JCCWB convenor Romesh Ningthoujam stated that the rescued white-eyed pochard duck is a rare winter visitor bird.
He said that following a tif-off that some miscreants are trying to trap winter migratory birds by using bird nets in and around Ikop Pat area, a joint rescue operation was conducted by the members of JCCWB, an umbrella body of several organisations based on Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation on the wee hours of Monday.
Romesh narrated that around 2.30 am, the team rushed to the area and conducted search operations with the permission of the Police station concerned. The team came across eight bird nets which were set by the miscreants.
However, all the miscreants had run away before the team arrived. During the seizure of the nets, a rare white-eyed pochard duck was found trapped in a net. The bird was later taken out of the net unhurt and released, Romesh added.
Convenor Romesh lamented that it was extremely unfortunate to find bird nets in Ikop Pat areas at a time when the Government and several CSOs had been working on to safeguard and protect the migratory visitors.
He also requested all not to trap the priceless wildlife birds and animals. “Let them live freely, our Mother Earth is also their place. They have the right to live here peacefully,” Romesh added.
