Volunteers try to save wetland
By Claire Wang |
January 29, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
VOLUNTEERS of a wildlife protection organization called for authorities to include a wetland straddling two provinces in central China into a state-level nature reserve as swans and other migratory birds are being poisoned by poachers.
A habitat of migratory birds, the old course of the Yellow River in Changyuan County in Henan Province attracts swans, wild ducks, grey cranes and other birds every winter. The once thriving nature area has become desolate after a plethora of swans were killed by villagers, the Dahe Daily reported yesterday.
Volunteers of Henan-based Green Future Environmental Protection Association found a swan struggling on the river on Wednesday. It later died.
"The swan was poisoned by wheat grains sprayed with pesticides. The pesticide was very strong, and a very small dose can kill the birds," Ma Shangren, a volunteer for the association who patrols the area frequently, told the newspaper.
"There used to be about 30 swans here, but the number has dropped significantly of late. We found some suspicious people on the other side of the river, which falls into the jurisdiction of Dongming County in Shandong Province," Ma said.
Volunteers discovered some nets set up by poachers in the wetland in Dongming County. Several stalls selling wild ducks and grey cranes were also found in the county, said Hua Jianfeng, vice chairman of the association.
The river is not included in the reserve because there are farms on both sides. An application has been filed with the Shandong Forestry Department to include the wetland, but there has been no response as of yet.
A habitat of migratory birds, the old course of the Yellow River in Changyuan County in Henan Province attracts swans, wild ducks, grey cranes and other birds every winter. The once thriving nature area has become desolate after a plethora of swans were killed by villagers, the Dahe Daily reported yesterday.
Volunteers of Henan-based Green Future Environmental Protection Association found a swan struggling on the river on Wednesday. It later died.
"The swan was poisoned by wheat grains sprayed with pesticides. The pesticide was very strong, and a very small dose can kill the birds," Ma Shangren, a volunteer for the association who patrols the area frequently, told the newspaper.
"There used to be about 30 swans here, but the number has dropped significantly of late. We found some suspicious people on the other side of the river, which falls into the jurisdiction of Dongming County in Shandong Province," Ma said.
Volunteers discovered some nets set up by poachers in the wetland in Dongming County. Several stalls selling wild ducks and grey cranes were also found in the county, said Hua Jianfeng, vice chairman of the association.
The river is not included in the reserve because there are farms on both sides. An application has been filed with the Shandong Forestry Department to include the wetland, but there has been no response as of yet.
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