Rare bird species spotted in Manipur

TOUBUL, Feb 8 – Bird watchers have spotted rare water bird Glossy Ibis and sea gulls in group 
in Manipur’s wetlands in the recent time.

Glossy Ibis is locally called mayang-urok and Sea-gull as touthra manbi.

“We’ve spotted these birds in Loktak and Ungamen wetland areas since last year,” said Dr Kh Shamungou, noted environmentalist while sharing his experience during a day-long motivation camp on ‘Water Bird Census – 2012’ here at Toubul village, 35 km south of Imphal in Bishunupur district on Tuesday. “Earlier we did not have these birds in our wetlands.”

Stating that the Glossy Ibis is yet to reappear at the popular Chilika Lake in Orissa, the environmentalist also expressed happiness over the development of Lamyai Pat of Tangjeng Khunjao under Manipur’s Sugnu Assembly constituency as a biodiversity spot – for its rich flora and fauna – by the Manipur Biodiversity Board.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0912/oth07

Five held in elephant-smuggling probe in India

Five people were arrested and three wild elephants seized as Indian police busted an elephant-smuggling ring in north-eastern Assam, officials said today.


Police official PK Dutta said documents seized during the operation showed that the gang had smuggled at least 92 elephants from the north-eastern state to other parts of India over the past five years.

Selling elephants is barred under Indian law and even getting permission to move domesticated elephants between states is a lengthy procedure.

Nevertheless, authorities say there remains a thriving trade in elephants, with many wealthy landowners in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh buying the animals as status symbols.

Authorities said the elephants are usually transported by truck. The smugglers are suspected of colluding with forestry officials, who have checkpoints along the major roads to prevent this type of smuggling.

Police investigated the ring after a local conservation group, the Green Heart Nature Club, filed a written complaint last week, Mr Dutta said.

After a three-day operation, authorities arrested five people and took custody of the three wild elephants, which did not have the identifying microchip implants required of all domesticated elephants, he said.

The group planned to smuggle as many as 10 elephants out in its latest operation, Mr Dutta added.

The smugglers regularly captured wild elephants from the forests of Assam, trained them for a year or two, and then claimed they were the offspring of the state's many domestic elephants, he said.

Wildlife authorities in Assam, home to more than 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants, denied the existence of the illegal elephant trade.

"We are examining the matter, but I can say there is no smuggling of elephants out of Assam," said Suresh Chand, the state's chief wildlife warden.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/five-held-in-elephantsmuggling-probe-in-india-2122109.html

Five held in elephant-smuggling probe in India

Five people were arrested and three wild elephants seized as Indian police busted an elephant-smuggling ring in north-eastern Assam, officials said today.


Police official PK Dutta said documents seized during the operation showed that the gang had smuggled at least 92 elephants from the north-eastern state to other parts of India over the past five years.

Selling elephants is barred under Indian law and even getting permission to move domesticated elephants between states is a lengthy procedure.

Nevertheless, authorities say there remains a thriving trade in elephants, with many wealthy landowners in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh buying the animals as status symbols.

Authorities said the elephants are usually transported by truck. The smugglers are suspected of colluding with forestry officials, who have checkpoints along the major roads to prevent this type of smuggling.

Police investigated the ring after a local conservation group, the Green Heart Nature Club, filed a written complaint last week, Mr Dutta said.

After a three-day operation, authorities arrested five people and took custody of the three wild elephants, which did not have the identifying microchip implants required of all domesticated elephants, he said.

The group planned to smuggle as many as 10 elephants out in its latest operation, Mr Dutta added.

The smugglers regularly captured wild elephants from the forests of Assam, trained them for a year or two, and then claimed they were the offspring of the state's many domestic elephants, he said.

Wildlife authorities in Assam, home to more than 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants, denied the existence of the illegal elephant trade.

"We are examining the matter, but I can say there is no smuggling of elephants out of Assam," said Suresh Chand, the state's chief wildlife warden.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/five-held-in-elephantsmuggling-probe-in-india-2122109.html