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| February 2, 2010 | Contaminated food threatens Gujarat's migratory birds | | Jamnagar (Gujarat): Migratory birds flocking to wetlands in Gujarat are at a serious risk of consuming contaminated food provided by locals. Since November last year, around 352 species of birds have flown in to the man-made Lakhota Lake in
Jamnagar, which has become a death zone for them.
The birds, which include slender-billed gulls, brown-headed gulls and the
black-headed
gulls, along with varieties of ducks like Gadwal, Gadgil, Ton and Spoonbill, are
found in the lake. Hundreds of tourists come in daily to watch these exotic birds
and feed them local food items like 'Gaathia' (pea flour balls) and biscuits.
Over the years, the birds have become accustomed to accepting food from the
people.
Environmentalists, however, believe that it is the local feed that is proving
harmful for the birds. "Local people are feeding the migratory birds 'gaathia'
with a good intention but it is not the bird's natural source of food. These birds
generally survive by consuming small fishes and other species found in the lakes.
Gaathia has caustic soda in it and it is generally fried in contaminated oil.
This was the reason why a lot of seagulls died here two years ago," said P H Satha,
Officer, Conservator of Forests, Jamnagar. However, tourists continue feeding
the birds with local food items. " We feed the birds food items like 'gaathia'
and biscuits and take good care of them. The migratory birds have become our city's
pride," said Manish, a local. In 2006, over 500 birds in the Lakhota Lake were
reported dead due to poisoning after consumption of contaminated food items. | |
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