After the mysterious death of about 20 peacocks here, forest officials of Chilika wildlife division has increased surveillance in the lake which is playing host to a number of migratory birds.
"We are trying to locate sick and dead birds in the Chilika Lake. Veterinary teams are expected to reach here in a couple of days to collect samples of migratory birds suspected to be ill," Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Wildlife Division Bikash Ranjan Dash said.
Nine poachers have been arrested and carcasses of 65 birds seized in the Tangi wildlife range in the last one and a half months, the DFO said.
Over 5 lakh migratory birds of different species have descended on the famous lake so far this year. Majority of them flock to 15.59 sq km Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in Chilika, officials said.
"Peacocks are also found near Rambha and Satapada areas under the wildlife division. The field staff have been asked to keep an eye on the national bird," the DFO said.
Forest officials from Aska also visited the peacock habitat on the Pakidi hill. "We found no sick or dead bird in the area," said forester (Aska) B K Roul. As a precautionary measure, the watchers and members of the peacock protection committee have been asked not to feed the birds, he said.
There are about 1,000 peacocks on the hill and 10 died four years ago after consuming pesticides spread in a nearby farmland, he said.
Surveillance in the Chilika, the biggest brackish water lake in the country, has been enhanced after carcasses of about 20 peacocks were recovered on December 8 from Madhupur village forest area in Khurda district, he said.
