Pesticide-laced crop poisons migratory birds in Jodhpur
Demoiselle cranes that travel thousands of miles to come to Rajasthan during winters are facing a deadly threat from the standing cumin crop laced with pesticides. As many as 33 birds have died since February due to poisoning, a forest department official said.
Kurjaa, as the demoiselle crane are known in local dialect, travel all the way from Mongolia and eurasia to Khinchan village in Jodhpur district just as the winter sets in. This is also the time when cumin crop is ready for harvest and farmers spray pesticides to prevent pest infestation.
“The birds that feed on these crops eventually die of food poisoning. At least nine Kurjaa birds died on Wednesday — six at Nimbli Nadi, two at Vijay Sagar and one at Raatri Nadi — while one is still unwell,” Narendra Singh Shekhawat , assistant conservator of forest, said. “The postmortem reports of the Kurjaa birds also confirmed that the birds died after consuming poison. All the nine birds were foaming at mouth,” he said.
Sevaram Mali, a twitcher who keeps a close watch over the migratory birds, said the pesticides sprayed over the standing rabi crop is fatal for the birds.
Wildlife expert Dr Hem Singh Gehlot said every year about 100 species of migratory birds fly to India, either in search of food or to escape severe winter. “Demoiselle crane is one of the species which fly over thousands of kilometers to come to Western Rajasthan. However, a number of them die due to poisoning or after coming in touch with live wires,” Dr Gehlot said.
A committee will be soon set up by the Rajasthan government to work out measures to boost the number of the Great Indian Bustard, the state bird.
Forest minister Gajendra Singh said the government is concerned over the dwindling number of the bird.
During the zero hour in the assembly, the minister said the population of the Great Indian Bustard, which is known as Godawan, is declining and measures to protect the bird needs to be taken.
The Rajasthan government had last year announced a Rs 12 crore Great Indian Bustard project. Singh said a committee will be formed soon by the government, which will have local MLAs as its members, for proper execution of the project.The minister was responding to a question raised by a member of the house. Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds and can weigh up to 15 kg. PTI