Migratory birds begin arriving at Loktak but LED light fishing still continues
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 16 2018:
Despite flocks of migratory birds beginning to arrive at Loktak lake and its surrounding areas, people are still continuing the practice of fishing using LED lights during nighttime in the lake.
Even though Governor Dr Najma Heptulla herself stressed on the impact of fishing using LED lights on the migratory birds and despite her assurance to do the needful during the observation of the 63rd Wildlife Week on October 8, the practice of using LED lights for fishing still continues unabated in the lake.
Speaking to media persons, Indian Bird Conservation Network Manipur coordinator RK Birjit conveyed that varieties of birds are beginning to arrive at Loktak lake for their winter migration but as the water level of Loktak lake is around 1.38 meters higher than normal this year, many of the birds are finding it difficult to land and search for food, thus forcing them to fly away after a short period.
Birjit explained that last year also, the high water level as well as the use of LED lights for fishing, resulted in decreased number of migratory birds at Loktak lake.
Pointing out that the State Government had also announced a plan to dedicate a bird sanctuary at Thinungei for the migratory birds, Birjit informed that in the first week of November, Forest Department in collaboration with Wildlife Institute of India and Hungarian Raptor Biologists, will undertake the task of fitting radio transmitter on Amur Falcon, which comes from Siberia and usually lands at Tamenglong, so as to study its migratory route.