The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Villagers killing protected species: environmentalist

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 28, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Villagers killing protected species: environmentalist

By Divya Sreedharan

BANGALORE, JAN. 27. He went bird watching near Hesarghatta Lake on Thursday morning but, to his horror, saw locals use country-made guns to kill protected bird species.

The environmentalist, who did not want to be identified, had a video camera with him.

There is a pristine patch of land near the lake, which, the environmentalist says, is a favourite birding spot. "The area has the Animal Husbandry Department to its right and an Indo-Danish Farm to its left. This patch is spread over some 1,200 acres (480 HA) and I have seen many species of birds — from barn owls, harriers (these are raptors — birds of prey that feed on the flesh of others), quails, ringed doves, partridges and peacocks there," he told The Hindu late on Thursday evening.

He called the police. The area comes to the Soladevanahalli police station limits. A Hoysala vehicle reached the spot around 3.30 p.m., too late to catch the villagers. When contacted, police sources said the area sub inspector went to the spot. "The complainant had taken videos of the culprits from the back. There is no way to identify them," the sources pointed out.

When The Hindu contacted a senior Forest Department official, he knew nothing about the incident.

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