Pawan Sharma, Founder, Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), received a call at 2 pm on the helpline number from an alert citizen living in a building overlooking the lake.
In an incident that has stunned animal activists from Thane, a man was reported shooting aquatic birds with an air gun on Friday afternoon while boating at Ambe Ghosale Lake. Though the accused managed to escape before animal activists could nab him, an air gun and two dead cormorants were recovered.
Pawan Sharma, Founder, Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), received a call at 2 pm on the helpline number from an alert citizen living in a building overlooking the lake.
"She narrated how this man was boating in the afternoon when it was not allowed and was firing shots at the birds. She said the man collected them after hitting their heads a few times on the boat. Soon, Amey Malegaonkar, wildlife rescuer and Yaman Tatre from Animal Plants Welfare Trust (APWT), who were nearby, rushed to the spot while the forest department was alerted," said Sharma.
Tatre said as soon as they reached the boating area, they caught sight of the man without the gun. However, when the accused spotted one of the rescuers, he jumped over the wall and escaped. "During our inspection, we came across an air gun, pellets and two dead cormorants in a bucket in the cabin of one of the security guards. We informed Rabodi police station, and also reported the incident to forest department officials," Tatre said.
Sharma said they will write to the forest department and will also get the police to register a First Information Report (FIR). "We cannot imagine that a person was hunting birds at the lake in broad daylight. This incident is especially alarming considering the person was able to boat during non-boating hours. The accused seems to know the place well," said Sharma.
Senior Police Inspector of Rabodi police station, PD Sahil, said an investigation has been launched. "We have seized the air gun and are in touch with Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) officials to conduct a post-mortem on the dead birds. While there is no information about the offender as of now, our staff is conducting an inquiry to round up suspects," said Sahil.
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