KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Nov 3: The forest department has on Wednesday taken the initiative to prevent poaching of owls from Dalma hill prior to Diwali, giving a boost for the protection of the nocturnal birds in the sprawling hill.
Considered to be Vahaan of Goddess Lakshmi, owls become a target of poaching as a section of people tend to keep them in captivity or sacrifice them during Diwali to appease the Goddess.
Dalma divisional forest officer, Abhishek Kumar has instructed the members of the Dalma forest protection committee through the range officers posted for the sanctuary for carrying out a special drive for the protection of the nocturnal birds in the hill.
“Prior to Diwali, several people tend to visit Dalma and capture owls from the cavities in trees which these nocturnal birds use as nests. The poachers later do sell the birds to a section of people belonging to the business community buy them at a high price. This time we have decided not to allow anyone to capture the owls from Dalma, ” said Kumar.
He pointed out that for preventing anyone from poaching the owls, they have decided to create awareness among the villagers living in the sanctuary through posters and banners, and also carrying out extensive patrolling in the hill by the members of the forest protection committee.
“The members of the forest protection committee have also been asked to carry out a door-to-door campaign besides remaining vigilant against poachers, ” the DFO pointed out.
Spread over 192 square kms and about 10 kms away from the heart of the city, the Dalma wildlife sanctuary has thousands of such trees in which owls reside, making it an ideal habitat for the nocturnal birds.
Owls who like to lead a solitary life remain active during the night, but during the day, they take a rest at the nest set up in the trees’ cavities. The poachers tend to capture the owls by climbing on such trees where there are cavities.
Significantly, several people, especially belonging to the business community believe owls can bring good luck if kept in captivity or sacrificed for the appeasement of Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity during Diwali festivity. Based on this centuries-old belief, such people maintain that by captivating or sacrificing the owls the Goddess is compelled to remain in their homes, thereby bringing good luck and wealth all the year-round.
