Free for all: A portion of the Oussudu Lake fence that has been damaged. At right, K. Ramamoorthy, president, Sembadugai Naneeragam, checking peacock feathers on Sunday. | Photo Credit: T_Singaravelou more-in Despite claims by Forest department officials about the dip in the number of poaching cases, killing of the bird continues unabated in Oussudu Lake, a major wetland on the outskirts of Puducherry. The feathers of about 50 peacocks were found buried on the bunds of the Oussudu Lake, a bird sanctuary managed by Puducherry and Tamil Nadu on Sunday. The broad fence erected by the department on the periphery of the lake has been damaged by the miscreants. Poached for meat It was suspected that the peacocks were poached in the areas abutting the sprawling water body. The poachers would have found their way into the lake after damaging the fence and buried the feathers after removing the meat. An animal welfare activist said the national bird is protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Killing peacock is prohibited and as per section 51(1-A), the offence attracts imprisonment, which may extend to seven years and a fine of not less than ?10,000. The crime came to light when an environmental activist on his routine morning walk noticed the damaged fence near the Children’s Park in Oussudu Lake. K. Ramamoorthy, president of Sembadugai Naneeragam, a Puducherry-based environmental organisation, said the poachers might have made their way into the lake after damaging the fence. The meat was allegedly sold to restaurants for a hefty sum. The crime might have been committed on Saturday night. The department was alerted at around 9 a.m the next day. A strict vigil is needed in the larger interest of protecting the bird and to prevent poaching, environmentalists said. The intrusion by poachers into the sanctuary to freely kill the birds only exposes the lack of anti-poaching measures and apathy of the forest department, they alleged. Unlike reserve forests such as Kaluveli in Villupuram district where the enforcement authorities are vigilant, boundaries of Oussudu Lake are vulnerable. There is no protection here. The department authorities look the other way while the slaughter of birds continues unabated, Mr. Ramamoorthy alleged. Despite repeated attempts, senior officials in the forest department were not available for comment on the issue.

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