godavan

It is for the first time in the past four decades 

It is for the first time in the past four decades that a GIB, also called godavan, has been poached during daytime. The forest department, taking a serious note of the incident, has started an investigationMeanwhile, the police have identified two vehicles used in poaching - a Tata 207 and a Bolero -- in which the hunters took away the dead birdThe GIB is facing extinction and its hunting is illegal. The poaching comes at a time when the government is formulating schemes to protect it. The government has sent one such scheme to the Centre for approvalSources pointed out that with the onset of winter, hunting of migratory birds begins at DNP but till now no action has been taken against any such elementsAccording to Khuhadi police station officer Kishore Singh, the two godavans were two kilometers away from the Sudasari area of the forest department. One vehicle that came from Khuhadi side spotted the godavans. They then called their friends through mobile phone. Later other poachers came in a Bolero and after parking their vehicle a little distance from the birds, fire at them.While one of the godavans died on the spot, the other managed to fly away. The poachers took the dead bird and left towards Khuhadi. Kishore Singh said that a shepherd, who witnessed the incident, later informed the forest department squad that reached the spot.Though the police tried to catch hold of the poachers by blocking Sangad, Jhinjhinyali, Sam and other areas, they managed to escape.Wildlife Board chairman Ranjeet Singh, describing the incident as "very serious" said that the DNP, especially Sudasari area, has only over 50 godavans. In the entire state there is less than 100 Godavans. "If the government fails to take stringent action, godavans will become extinct in the state," he said.Officials of DNP have sent the samples of blood, feather etc of godawan to a forest laboratory. A case has been registered against unidentified poachers under Section 9 of Wildlife Act.Principal chief conservator of forests, U K Sahay said that he has sought the complete report of poaching of godavan and it is a serious incident.

Source: Times Of India