Port Blair, June 28: A group of four people were apprehended on Monday for hunting of pompodore green pigeons in the heart of the city at RGT road by the staff of protection range led by Mr Manjeet Singh, Dy. Ranger. The team has seized two air rifles and a car that were used for the commission of the illegal activities.
With the onset of monsoon pigeons and other animals are attracted towards fruit bearing trees. The miscreants take this opportunity to hunt down hundreds of these animals, particularly the varied pigeons, many of which are listed under various schedules like Wildlife Protection Act 1972, CITES, IUCN list etc. Tools used range from the humble, stones, catapults to improvised and precise air rifles. Traps are also laid where gum is used alongwith a decoy or judas pigeon to attract wild birds.
Depending upon the crime, penalty for such illegal activity may be an imprisonment, upto 3 years and fine upto Rs. 25,000. Apart from confiscation of tools, equipments, vehicles etc. used while committing such act.
The Forest Department has requested the general public to discourage such practices and to inform the wildlife control room @ 245229 or the control team may be reached through whatsapp on 9474214401 and 9474291698. People have been requested to voluntarily surrender or motivate the owners to surrender their air rifles, with the Protection Range Officer, Mini Zoo, Haddo for cause of conserving the Wildlife whose diversity and rarity is the feather in the cap of these beautiful Islands.
