Residents rescued a pelican from a suspected poacher at Korattur Lake and handed over the bird to Forest Department officials.
The pelican, weighing around 6kg, was rescued around 1.30pm and is undergoing treatment, said forest officials..
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, defines “hunting” to include killing, capturing, trapping or baiting a wild animal, as well as injuring or destroying it or taking any part of its body. S Sekharan, secretary of Korattur Aeri Padukappu Makkal Iyakkam (KAPMI), said poachers pelt stones at pelicans that come close to the lake shore. He said the lake is a biodiversity hotspot that attracts birds such as glossy ibis, open-billed stork, wood sandpiper, black-winged stilt, purple sunbird and Eurasian coot, as well as pelicans. The organisation also submitted a petition to water resources minister N Anand, he said.
People at the spot intervened, chased the man away and alerted forest officials, who later rescued the bird. Thus, an attack that injures a wild bird can attract provisions of the Act even if the bird survives. The incident has renewed activists’ demand to declare Korattur lake a bird sanctuary.
Chennai: A pelican suffered a neck injury after it was attacked by a man at Korattur lake around 9am on Saturday.
