The Hindu : Kerala / Kozhikode News : Heron fledglings released

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kozhikode

Heron fledglings released

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: Two of the Indian Pond Heron fledglings rescued by the Flying Squad Wing of the Forest Department from the tamarind tree that was felled for widening the road near Eranhipalam Junction here have been released into the Kadalundi estuary after they took wing.

Forester T.V. Rajan said the flying squad had rescued six fledglings from the nests that had crashed to the ground when the tree was cut down by the contractor engaged by the Public Works Department to widen the road.

The water birds were entrusted to the care of a daily wage forest guard at the Kadalundi bird sanctuary. The birds were examined by veterinary doctors and administered medicines before they were taken to Kadalundi. Of the six birds rescued, one was a cormorant (`neerkaka') and five Indian Pond Herons.

Scores of adult birds and fledglings were killed and eggs destroyed when the tree was felled, evoking widespread protests from the public.

Tamarassery Forest Range Officer P.J. Suhaib said the Common Report (First Information Report) had been prepared and preliminary investigations were on under Section 9 (Hunting, Habitat destruction) of the Wildlife Protection Act to determine whether the contractor had violated the stipulated guidelines. The Tamarassery Forest Range Office has filed a case in the Tamarassery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court under the Wildlife Protection Act. It is mandatory that the permission of the Social Forestry Wing be sought for felling trees but reportedly, the forestry wing was not aware of the move to cut down the tamarind tree at Eranhipalam.

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