Poaching of Migratory birds goes unabated in Kashmir

Tahir Hussain

Bandipora, January 25: The unabated poaching of the Wild  Himalayan and Migratory birds is on rise around Wetlands including Wular, Dal, Narkara, Hygam and in Valley's hilly areas with people posting pictures of captured birds on social media especially in winter Season, despite authorities imposing ban on the use of guns in and around the water bodies.

          The wild birds including Himalayan Snow cock (commonly called Wanh kokur), Snow Patridge (Kakew), Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Quilt, Khalij pheasant, etc continue to fall prey to poachers as these are mainly caught for eating purpose as same are sold in open market while many hunt for fun. Clicking photos with the poached birds and uploading then on social networking sites has become a latest trend in Kashmir.

          Early morning the poachers and locals in groups move to hilly areas like Arin Sumlar, Rajpora Rampora, Ketsan, Gurez in Bandipora, Rajwad, Mawar Nowgam, Natnussa chek, Kralpora, Lolab in Kupwara, Gund, Gutlibagh, Naranagh, Nagbal in Ganderbal, Charward, Ahlangadool, Dandipora in Kokernag Anantnag, Heerpora, Sedow chotipora, Dubjan in shopian, Zampathri, Drangnad in Pulwama and many other areas and poach on these birds. The hunting is going on unabated despite ban.

The poaching of the migratory and partial migratory birds like Greyleg goose, coot, Cranes, Geese, Gadwal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveller, Gargney, Cormorant, Moorhen, Pochard, Common teal etc that come to Kashmir in winter season around famous wet lands including Wular, Dal, Narkara, Hokarsar  etc is going on in winter season and some of the poached birds are sold in open market.

          Illegal poaching of wetland birds, including migratory species, is rampant in many parts of the Wular lake especially in Zalwan, Banyair, Leharwalpora, Kulhama, Nagbal areas of Ganderbal and hygam in Baramulla.

          Travelling continents in flocks, some in parallel rows while others in wave shape, the various species of birds arrive here from Europe, Central Asia, China and Japan to spend the winter in the waters of the Himalayan valley, but are facing threat of poaching from the poachers in many parts of Kashmir.

          Experts and the locals from the Valley believe that poachers and hunters use homemade guns to kill Himalayan and wetland birds in broad daylight while the Wildlife authorities have nothing to do other than watching helplessly and expressing helplessness and shortage of staff. These professional hunters have special boats and guns.

          Local Fishermen living around Wullar lake said the Department of Wildlife and District administration has stopped them from poaching and has seized their guns as well but still some people from other areas come to the lake and kill birds. “It seems to be a nexus between wildlife officials and hunters to hunt birds and sell in black market,” said a fishermen/ “ we have been banned deliberately to allow illegal hunters to rein”.

          Few years back, the Government directed all license holders to deposit their guns in respective police stations. The license holders deposited guns in police stations but unlicensed guns are being used to kill the birds.

          Locals said the easy availability of local guns is worrying administration. “No one knows how many guns are in use in Kashmir. Though there are figures with the authorities but each license holder has two to three local guns, he deposits one and uses others,” said a Wildlife officer on the condition of anonymity.

          Currently mallards, greylag geese, pochards, pintails and charwals are jostling in some of the major water bodies of Kashmir including Wular Lake, Dal Lake, Manasbal, Narkara and Hokersar.

          Though Kashmir Convener has all the records of the report documented, However Wildlife Warden Rauf Zargar refutes the allegations and said there is no  illegal practice going on in the valley.

          “The migration of the birds has remained very low this winter and the number goes on fluctuating, we don't have exact figures of migratory birds till now that visted the valley this season,” Rauf added

           The Research officer J&k wildlife Dr.Sameena said, “It is a new source of information for we people that Snow Cock (Wanh kokur), Padridge(Kakew) and other wild birds are poached and captured by the locals for eating purpose. we will immediately look into the matter and identify the places where this illegal poaching and capturing of is going on,” he added.  “I will raise this serious issue with the higher officials”.

          Few days back two hunters from lolab area who were on hunting mission of these wild birds were killed as snow avalanche engulfed them and later their bodies were recovered also gives us an idea how poaching and illegal hunting of these wild birds is going unabated in Kashmir in Winter season thus justifying our claim.