Assam: Five arrested for trapping wild birds in Kaziranga National Park

Guwahati: Five individuals were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly hunting wild birds in the northern range of Kaziranga National Park, situated in Assam's Biswanath district.

A joint operation by the Biswanath Ghat Range and the Crime Investigation Range was launched at Bholakhat Beel after receiving credible information that a group of people had set up nets to trap wild birds.

The team apprehended all five suspects at the scene.

The arrested individuals were identified as Saiful Islam, Anowar Hussain, Tamsar Ali, Abul Hussain, and Fukir Ali.

They were detained following a targeted operation based on reliable information.

These individuals had reportedly been involved in similar activities in the past but had not been caught.

Upon interrogation, they admitted to either consuming or selling the birds they trapped.

Authorities rescued a live bird, believed to be a Cotton Pygmy Goose, which is a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

In addition, a fishing net, two mobile phones, a torch, and two white bags were seized during the operation.

Forest officials pointed out that the Cotton Pygmy Goose is a rare migratory species that migrates to Assam from Afghanistan, where it breeds before arriving in the region.