Kulik Bird Sanctuary in Raiganj, north Bengal, losing birds due to poachers

It has been revealed that nesting birds at Kulik Bird Sanctuary in the outskirts of Raiganj town in north Bengal, are falling prey to poachers. The locals from nearby villages enter the sanctuary where several species of waterfowl, like open-bill storks, pond herons, egrets and cormorants, are nesting.
This is because a large portion of the boundary fence is missing and, with each bird fetching between Rs 100 and Rs 150, it is easy picking for the locals – many of them are unemployed and need to earn money. It seems these people enter in groups and, with very few guards, it becomes difficult to keep check.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 26 September 2015.

But, the divisional forest officer refused to admit that there is any poaching in the sanctuary. It has been conceded that the sanctuary lacked proper vigil. However, as per statistics, in 2013, there were around 65,000 birds of the three species while last year, the count increased to 68,000.
The 370-acre sanctuary is located 3-Km from Raiganj town and along NH34 with the Kulik River flowing nearby. The forest department, along with a local NGO, has taken up a week-long bird census.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

ASI hikes entry fees to Taj Mahal by 200%

Heavy rains lash Pune, trains cancelled, passengers stranded for hours in trains

Bangalore does not want people to feed pigeons in Cubbon Park


NBA Superstar 7ft 2in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to publish novel on Mycroft Holmes, elder brother of Sherlock Holmes

Priyanka Chopra and Monica Dogra nominated by VH1for Europe Music Awards 2015

John Abraham and Sonakshi Sinha shoot ‘Force 2’ in Ethnographic Museum Budapest


Death toll rises to 193 in fuel tanker explosion in South Sudan

Taliban attacks mosque in Peshawar Air Force base and leaves 20 dead

Russia sends fighter jets to Syria to bolster Assad’s defenses


36-days for Durga Puja and the dhakis get ready

Industries just do not gel with West Bengal

Bengalis are daydreamers tied to mothers’ apron strings