Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 25:

The Odisha government would make a documentary film on the migratory birds to make people aware of the need to protect them, said Forest and Environment minister Bikram Arukh here on Tuesday.

Photo Courtesy: odishatourism.org Photo Courtesy: odishatourism.org

The government would also conduct a survey on the poaching of these birds, who are being poisoned by the poachers through the lotus petals in the water bodies, he said while replying to questions of Bijay Kuamr Mohanty and other members in the State Assembly on Tuesday.

The minister said a total of 7,46,622 migratory birds of 102 species had visited the Chilika lake this year while 84,563 migratory birds of 94 species, 43,889 of 18 species, 10,342 of four species and 7,282 of 22 species had visited the Bhitarkanika, Hirakud, Rengali and Ansupa water bodies, respectively as per the bird census conducted in January this year.

Referring to measures taken by the state government, Arukh said 37 bird protection teams have been formed for protection of birds of which 18 are deployed in Chillika, nine each in Bhitarkanika and Hirakud and one in Ansupa.