3 held for hunting egrets; 11 dead, 9 injured birds seized

Nagpur: The mobile squad of Nagpur forest division arrested three persons from Hudkeshwar (Budruk) in the city for hunting egrets. The officials seized 11 dead and 9 injured birds from them. All the accused belong to Chhattisgarh.

The accused have been identified as Mahesh Solanki, Choradevi (Bilaspur), Nanduram Solanki, Junwani (Bhatapara), and Rakesh Malviya, Kora (Bilaspur). They were staying temporarily in the city under the Narendra Nagar bridge.

Egrets are listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and hunting them is a non-bailable offence.

ACF Surendra Kale said, “The accused were produced before JMFC SD Mehta, Nagpur. We opposed bail to the accused. The court said this was a serious crime and rejected their bail and remanded them to magisterial custody (MCR) till August 18. All the youth were engaged in selling brooms. They used to hunt these birds using slingshots.”

According to RFO VS Gangawane, “The hunting of birds was for consuming its meat and it was first noticed by wildlife lovers Pratik Dhawad, Nitesh Bhandakkar, Vikrant Kawle, Ankit Salode, Sahit Sharnagat, and Dheeraj Miskin. They called up state wildlife board member Kundan Hate and Hudkeshwar police.”

Hate said according to these wildlife lovers, the accused were hitting the birds relaxing on a tree with slingshots. The youths tried to stop them but in vain. However, police reached the spot and took custody of the accused.

Meanwhile, forest guard LA Warghat rushed to the spot and arrested the accused. “We collected 11 dead and 9 injured birds and shifted them to Transit Treatment Centre (TTC), Seminary Hills,” said Kale.

“After being hit by stones the condition of these birds is critical,” said wildlife veterinarians Dr Syed Bilal and Siddhant More.

Hate said, “The massive and rapid expansion of the egret’s range is due to its relationship with humans and their domesticated animals. These birds feed on a wide range of prey, particularly insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, flies, maggots, and moths, as well as spiders, frogs, lizards, and earthworms and play a crucial role in the environment.”


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