Two youth, who poached a painted stork at the Singanallur lake, escaped after being chased by NGO volunteers today.

The two dropped the carcass of the bird along with a sack in which they carried the feathers as soon as they spotted the NGO members.

According to L. Karthick, one of the volunteers of the Animal Rescuers Organisation, which is currently monitoring the lake with the help of the Coimbatore Corporation, the members were on their regular rounds when they saw the poaching activity.

“We were there to water the saplings on the lake bund when we noticed feathers on the ground. When we looked around we found the poachers and chased them. But they threw the carcass and escaped,” he said.

By the time they called the authorities, the two escaped.

Claiming that this was not the first poaching incident at the Singanallur lake, Karthick also added that other birds including Spot Billed Pelicans, Water Hens and Cormorants were also being targeted by the poachers. “The poachers injure the legs of the birds using catapults and then kill them using knife,” he said that adding that since most of the poaching happen during the night, it was difficult to nab them.

Another volunteer said the lake, that is home to a large number rare birds, will end up losing all of them if the poaching does not end.

“The birds are being constantly disturbed by humans and even people who wish to take photographs cross the limit,” he added.

When contacted Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner K, Vijayakarthikeyan said that an action plan would be drawn to curb poaching.