Wildlife trading or wildlife trafficking at Galib Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Wildlife trafficking at Galib Street, Kolkata

Report as on 2nd March 2013 by Dibyendu Ash:

I can't stand such things happening just under our nose and let go it so easily. As long as there is demand for sex trade or wildlife trade or child labour trade, it will go on!!

It was a beautiful sunday morning. I went to Galib Street with my friend Subhashis Raha to buy pomeranian pupp. While he was busy talking to the dog breeder/seller! I noticed Rose-ringed Parakeets, Plum-headed Parakeets, White-rumped Munias, Red avadavats etc. are being sold. We didn't had mood to buy the pommy pup!

I have tried to report to the police sergeant who was controlling traffic at that time in Galib Street. He told me that he can't take the report and advised me to go to Saltlake to lodge the complaint; but he could not provide me the address or contact number or email ID for that. 

He couldn't note down the report because his job is to control traffic!! But I think enforcement can be performed by agencies such as the Forest Department, the Police, the Customs and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). 

Photographs attached herewith contains the images of -

• Rose-ringed Parakeet

• Plum-headed Parakeet

• White-rumped Munia

Rose-ringed Parakeet on sale on 2nd March 2014 (above)

Rose-ringed Parakeet on sale on 2nd March 2014 (above), they know what they are doing is wrong, but even after that these guys are selling wild animals. They are well below the defined poverty line in India. So, no laws can stop them until they have empty stomach.

White-rumped Munia inside cage on 2nd March 2014 (above)
Rose-ringed Parakeet and Plum-headed Parakeet caged inside on 2nd March 2014 (left)

Few other species which were on sell are 

• Red Avadavats, 

• Alexandrine Parakeet, 

• Indian Silverbill and 

• Black-headed Munia.

This is not the first time I am watching this. It is known to all that if somebody gives a visit to Galib street then he/she can buy some wildlife animals and can keep them as pet. Policemen usually raid for countless number of times in a single year. But such illegal vendors are there, Galib street is there as it is. I have already notified regarding this in various Facebook forums, I think since this is a concern for Kolkata itself, that is why I am writing this blog.

Here is the link that one I have shared with Sanctuary Asia in Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=722838581084371&set=a.202928146408753.50275.100000747069515&type=1&theater

I think sharing this in Facebook can not create an impact, until the whole mass accept it. My friends or members in this forum will not buy, but their is a bigger world outside my friend circle? How to connect with them? I don't have any answer against it. Even if I post this in Facebook, I doubt how many people will notice this and will go through it seriously. Just some of my friends will comment against this post and will show their sympathy. 

I heartily feel sorry for those who are obliged to sell or involved in such illegal trades. If they manage a better livelihood perhaps then they will move into different profession. Now a days, new options are opening and policy makers are giving solution for jobless. Hoping for the best for wildlife and human livelihood. 

From my side there is no problem if someone is putting guppies or parrot fish in their tanks bought from a registered vendor. Keeping animals as pet is a tradition of human being for 10000 years, it started with dogs. But once declared by the govt itself, that such and such animals should not be traded, one should forbid himself from keeping wild animals as pet. 

Registered vendors generally sell badrikas, love birds and mixed breed finches as bird or fighters, guppies and mollies as fish. They don't go for selling something exotic. And believe me, registered vendors has also a set up shop, let it be an aquarium shop or a pet shop. So, it is obvious that registered vendors will never opt for selling wild animals or taking the risk of selling them. Because they have something to do with. 

Those who has nothing to do with are involved into selling of smuggled goodies. Most of them live well beyond poverty line! The best we can do as a so called civilized citizen of WB, is that "Stop buying these animals" from unauthorised vendors. 

Again "from unauthorised vendors"!

© Dibyendu Ash (CC-BY-NC-SA)

Birding at Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary (i) | Aritar, Lingtam, Padamchen/Phadamchen

Located amidst the mountains of Bhutan and Kanchendzonga mountain ranges of Nepal, East and South Sikkim is a pristine place for nature lovers, birders and trekkers. Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary lies amidst this place. Aritar, Lingtam and Padamchen (or Phadamchen) are small hamlets lying in this wildlife sanctuary corridors. Presenting here the rarities and beauties that I have loaded in my memory in the month of January 2014. 

Aritar:

I started my journey from Aritar and stayed their for three days in the month of January 2014. A region in East Sikkim of India under Rongli Sub-Division, is known for its natural and landscaped beauty. There are five birding trails around Aritar lake and homestays which are home for Blue-fronted Redstart, Himalayan Bluetail, White-crested Laughingthrush, Striated Laughingthrush, White-rumped Munia, Speckled Piculet, Whistler's Warbler, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Little Bunting etc. Speckled Wood Pigeon was the highlights amongst all of the mentioned species. Amongst pigeons and doves Speckled Wood Pigeon is least photographed from Indian Subcontinent. I managed some decent shots though. Patience paid off. Two to three full day stay at this place will give you immense opportunity for birding. Whole day birding inside the park with packed lunch and breakfast can be arranged without any problem. In this case you can give your total attention onto birding.   

Speckled Wood Pigeon | © Dibyendu Ash @ 2014 (CC-BY-NC-SA)

Lingtam:

After spending three beautiful birding days, I moved out towards Lingtam. I already had a support their to stay at Lingtam. Everyday I used to have packed breakfast for morning birding in and around the four trails of Lingtam. The main highlights of this region were Black-throated Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Common Green Magpie, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, Little Forktail, Spotted Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail, Greater Yellownape, Grey-hooded Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Red-tailed Minla, Hoary-throated Barwing, White-browed Fulvetta, Spangled Drongo, White-browed Cuckoo Shrike, Plumbeous Water Redstart, White-capped Redstart, Grey-headed Woodpecker and last but not the least Bay Woodpecker. Amongst Woodpeckers of Indian Subcontinent, Bay Woodpecker is least photographed. Though at dusk I didn't manage to have a decent image of the bird, I would give another try for the bird when I am in that place again. Backpack filled with a bottle of water and light snacks like biscuits gave me enough energy to walk for twelve hours. Two full day stay at this place will give immense opportunity for birding. Whole day birding inside the park with packed lunch and breakfast can be arranged without any problem. In this case you can give your total attention onto birding.

   

Bay Woodpecker | © Dibyendu Ash @ 2014 (CC-BY-NC-SA)

Phadamchen:

When my four days in Lingtam was over, my mind asked me "what next you would get?". Phadamchen or Padamchen was as glorious as it should be for birding. Spent five nights at Padamchen. For the first time I tasted Chang at Padamchen. "Chhaang" or "chang" (Tibetan: ཆང་), a fermented millet drink, served with boiling hot water. Generally Chaang is consumed through bamboo barrels, (called "Dhungro"). Now a days aluminium containers are also available. By the way moving on to the birds of Sikkim. Tastes awesome when consumed with roasted potatoes. Now coming to the key birds of Phadamchen for which one should give a must visit there are Blue-fronted-Redstart, Grey-Bushchat, Rufous-Sibia, Rufous-vented-Yuhina, Striated-Prinia, Strip-throated-Yuhina, White-collared Blackbird, Scaly Thrush, Black-throated Thrush, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Blue-winged laughingthrush, Streaked Laughingthrush, Striated laughingthrush, Plain-backed Thrush, Large Niltava, Small Niltava, Black-throated Tit, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Red-tailed Minla, Hoary-throated Barwing, White-browed Fulvetta, Spangled Drongo, White-browed Cuckoo Shrike, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe-throated Yuhina and Rufous-vented Yuhina. Where Speckled Wood Pigeon was the highlight from Aritar and Bay Woodpecker, Brown Dipper and Forktails were the highlights from Lingtam; Padamchen or Phadamchen is the heaven for thrush family and Yuhinas.

Bird photographs: To check the bird photographs have a look at the album and GoingWild's Facebook album of Avian friends from the north-east of India.

Thank you all for your valuable time to read it.

Send a mail to support@goingwild.in and get in touch with GoingWild for birding trip in Sikkim. 

For more upcoming trips visit us at: www.goingwild.in