Flamingo killings reported in Charkop

The incident was reported to the police Gautam Singh,who lives in a building near the mangroves. “Around 10.40 am,I heard a gun shot followed by lots of birds flapping. Five minutes later,I heard another gunshot and I could see a man in the thicket approaching a flamingo through my binoculars. I clicked pictures of him killing three flamingos with what looked like a bore and taking them away. I called the police immediately,” said Singh. The man was accompanied by a friend.

When a police team arrived at his place around ten minutes later,Singh pointed out the men to them through his window. The men were unaware of these developments. “We walked around one km into the forest but couldn’t find them. The entire area is marshy as it is along the Gorai creek and it was difficult for us to wade our way through,” said Police Inspector Praveen Patil.

Photographic evidence was collected from Singh’s house while two vans continued to look for the perpetrators till afternoon. Police could not ascertain the make of the weapon. An FIR has been registered at the Charkop police station.

Nikhil Bhopale,a bird expert at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS),said,“Flamingo is not edible like duck or goose,hence it is not generally hunted. There have been no reports of them being sold as well. This seems like a case of ignorance by someone who has myths about the bird.”

Suresh Thorat,chief conservator of forests (Thane circle),said,” Although the police are already investigating the case,I will inform my people to keep vigil in the area. A stern action will be taken against those responsible.”