Bird carcasses found in Collectorate

RAMANATHAPURAM: Bird carcasses were found floating in water bodies located within the Collectorate complex here on Thursday.Migratory birds frequent the area and as many as four bird sanctuaries including Kanjirankal, Chittrankudi and Keelaselvanur and Melaselvanur lie in the vicinity. However, most of the water bodies in the area have become dry, which had prompted the birds to search for new ones. It is understood that some of these migratory birds chose the stagnant water near the housing board quarters located in the Collectorate complex. The birds usually assemble for few days to collect water and food there. However, the clutch of dead birds on Thursday have raised the question whether they were poisoned.It may be recalled that last year some miscreants had poisoned the birds to consume their flesh. Palanisamy of Ramanathapuram, said, the birds were beautiful and they were resting on the waters and stones to collect their food for a few days. Some heartless persons might have poisoned the birds, he added. It is said, they had thrust rat poison into the mouths of small fishes and scattered them in the stagnant water. The birds must have consumed them without knowing the perils and died later. The miscreants collected the dead birds in the evening hours and sold them to customers later. Ever since the suspicion came to the fore, forest officials launched an intensive drive to nab the offenders. It is suspected that the same group of miscreants might have been active yet again. Sensing the issue, some forest officials rushed to the spot and collected a few carcasses.