Mumbai: The mangrove cell has arrested six persons for hunting flamingos on the Malwani wetlands. The incident occurred on July 10, when citizens alerted the Mumbai police, the mangrove cell and a non-government organisation (NGO) about a few gun-toting persons entering the wetlands in Malad, which is frequented by flamingos. The NGO — Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) — suspects that the bird was being hunted for its meat.
Flamingos are protected species under schedule IV of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Sunish Subramanian, secretary of PAWS and wildlife warden for Mumbai, said that a local from the forest area at Jankalyan Nagar, in Malwani village had informed the NGO about the incident at 1.15 pm. “They told us that five to six people entered the wetlands with guns and bags. We have forwarded the pictures to the authorities,” said Mr Subramanian.
Mr Subramanian added that in the same area, there had been earlier reports of people going to the wetlands with guns.” In Mumbai, such incidents are rare, but this must be happening for their meat,” said Mr Subramanian.
“In the photographs with this letter/email it is clearly seen few flamingo birds in wetland, some people walking in wetland and among them one of the person with umbrella having gun in his hand and other photographs of a person in white t-shirt carrying yellow bag (sic),” read the letter by the NGO to the authorities.
An injured flamingo was rushed to a city veterinary hospital on June 16, 2017, after it was rescued from the interiors of Vasai. A preliminary examination revealed that the bird had pellet wounds in one of its wings and multiple fractures. Earlier that year, in January, four severely injured flamingos were found at the Thane and Vashi creek.
Flamingos usually arrive in the city in May, but this year saw a delay by a few months.
