Patna: The hunting and smuggling of Siberian birds in Begusarai’s Kabar Lake, a Ramsar site of international importance, continue to pose a threat to biodiversity. In a joint operation by the Manjhaul police and the forest department, seven Siberian birds were rescued, and Amarjeet Sahni, son of smuggler Ramdev Sahni, was arrested. The rescued birds were released back into the migration area of Kabar Lake, while further legal action against the accused is underway.
Mahesh Bharti, convener of the Kabar Nature Club, highlighted that migratory birds are being trapped using long nets set up with bamboo poles in several parts of Kabar Tal, including Mahalaya, Kochalaya, and Vandihari. Despite being a Ramsar site since 1986, the sanctuary faces challenges from rampant hunting, with nets and equipment being dismantled by sunrise to evade detection. The hunters sell these birds for prices ranging from ₹400 to ₹3,000, depending on the species.
Kabar Lake is a vital ecosystem for 60 migratory bird species from regions like Siberia, Central Asia, and China. These birds travel thousands of kilometres to escape harsh winters and breed. However, their population is dwindling due to large-scale hunting, jeopardising both biodiversity and India’s global conservation image.
The government and local communities, including farmers and fishermen, must collaborate to protect Kabar’s migratory birds. Mahesh Bharti urged all stakeholders to safeguard this biodiversity hotspot, emphasising that failure to protect these birds would harm India’s reputation and ecological balance.
