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Chilka lake sees drop in number of migratory birds

Imran Khan in Bhubaneswar

The number of migratory birds visiting the world famous Chilka lake in Orissa has substantially fallen this winter. "Unlike last year, a significant fall in the number of birds visiting the lake was recorded this year," an official of the forest department said.

According to a recent survey, only about 600,00 birds have reached the lake this year.

Last year 1.3 million birds visited lake and in 1999 the number was 1.9 million.

A total of 173 species, including 92 migratory and local migratory and 35 resident species, were spotted this time. Every year, the divisional forest office of Chilka conducts a survey of birds thronging the lake.

Forest officials cite several reasons -- ranging from the war in Afghanistan to unabated poaching in and around the lake -- for the fall in numbers.

"Despite tight security by the forest department, poachers and villagers are killing birds for meat," the official said.

The fall in number of birds has surprised wildlife experts, environmentalists and ornithologist. The issue is likely to attract worldwide attention because the Chilka lake is a wetland of international importance and is a 'Ramsar Site'. Even the World Wildlife Fund describes Chilka as one of the hot spots of bio-diversity in India.

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