Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 22 (Only Kashmir): The spilling of blood is not something new in Kashmir, but those are the human catastrophic stories. Today we have a story of a rare migratory bird Whooper Swan, who got brutally slaughtered at the hands of poachers during its maiden journey to Kashmir after almost seven decades.
Whooper Swan, a large northern hemisphere swan is the national bird of Finland and a harmless creature of god was according to the Wildlife profession recently found in wetlands of Kashmir after almost seven decades.
Condemning the incident, prominent Wildlife profession and Head and Chairperson Wildlife Research and Conservation Foundation (WRCF) Dr. Mehreen Khaleel stated “Even though wildlife shooting is banned in Jammu and Kashmir, we have come across many such posts in which people are seen holding dead birds and animals. They are either killed for fun or sold openly in markets as exotic meat.”
“This incident should be a wake-up call for everyone and work towards eradicating the menace of rampant poaching. Let’s discourage this act and report whenever you find something like this,” Khaleel added.
Pertinent to mention here, maintaining their centuries-old tryst with Kashmir almost half a million birds visit Hokersar Wetland, Ramsar site and other 22 wetlands in Kashmir, however, many of these birds are becoming unlawful and illegal victims of poachers.
Pertinently, J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 on the lines of the National Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Under the amended Act, declared hunting of almost all species under the schedules as prohibited.
Talking to Onlykashmir[dot]in, Mr. Amit Sharma, KAS, Special Secretary to Government Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment assured strict action against the incident. When asked whether the department will initiate enquiry into the incident, he said that the details will be forwarded to Wild Life Warden for necessarily action. He maintained we collectively have to fight against this menace of poaching.
The birdwatchers in Kashmir while demanding stern action against the poachers said the existence of the migratory birds is a pageant of colour and cackle which beckons humankind to preserve the delicate ecological balance of the planet but the migratory birds always remain under the threat of poachers who kill them outside the wetland reserves that are not fully protected by the staff of the wildlife department.
