Illegal fishing is becoming a threat to the river birds and other species. In a recent post on Facebook by Bhutan Birdlife Society, a Great Cormorant was shown strangulated along with fishes in a fish trap.
The society said a group of birders along the Punatsangchhu river came across the incident on 29th October. The society also said they found fish traps set up the very next day at the same spot.
The Bhutan Birdlife Society said they come across many such incidences were birds die as a result of illegal fishing.
According to the officials of the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), if such acts continue, it can threaten the water birds.
“If we look at the population of birds in the Punatsangchhu area, there are thousands of water birds visiting that area. And if there are more fishing traps, thousands of birds are going to die. So I think it is going to be a big issue in the future if it continues,” said Indra Acharja, the Chief for Research Division at the RSPN.
He also said pollution of rivers, which are deemed as pollution-free not long ago, in urban areas is a growing concern.
“If we look at the Thimchhu in Thimphu, it is quite polluted. So birds dwelling in the rivers around the city will have to live in the polluted river and, this will be an issue very soon,” he added.
He said it is important for every individual to understand the importance of waste management and the impact of such illegal fishing on our ecosystem.
