North Lakhimpur: A man from Assam’s North Lakhimpur was detained after a video allegedly showing him eating a wild bird alive and uploading the act on social media sparked outrage among nature lovers and wildlife conservationists.
The accused, identified as Maniram Das, allegedly uploaded a video on Instagram on Sunday afternoon in which he appeared to be eating a White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), locally known as ‘Dauk’. In the video, the man was purportedly seen biting the bird around its neck while it was still alive.
Following the circulation of the video, some local bird lovers confronted Das and detained him. He was subsequently made to give a written undertaking that he would not repeat such an act, following which he was reportedly let off after being subjected to what the bird lovers described as a form of punishment.
The incident, however, has triggered strong reactions among conservationists, who have demanded stringent legal action against the accused. They have urged the authorities to investigate the incident and take action under applicable provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and other relevant laws concerning cruelty to animals.
The incident has also drawn the attention of wildlife and law-enforcement authorities, including the Assam Police, Assam State Biodiversity Board and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
Conservationists said that posting such acts on social media could encourage others to engage in cruelty towards wildlife and stressed the need for a proper legal investigation rather than informal punishment.
The White-breasted Waterhen is a commonly found wetland bird in Assam and is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, making the alleged killing or harming of the bird a matter requiring investigation by the competent authorities.