(IN) Sparrows reappear in Bhitarkanika (Orissa)

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Sparrows reappear in Bhitarkhanika

11 Sep 2009, 1658 hrs IST, PTI

 

KENDRAPARA (Orissa): Sparrows, which had disappeared from the region due to

man-made factors, have staged a comeback in the wetlands of Orissa's

Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

" Last week we sighted a large number of nests of sparrows near the tourists rest

sheds of the sanctuary, " Prasanna Kumar Behera, Divisional Forest Officer,

Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division said.

 

He said there was a large population of sparrows a decade ago, but they slowly

disappeared.

 

" We are trying to protect sparrows, which are not listed in any schedule of the

Wildlife Protection Act. We are planning to grow indigenous plants to provide an

ideal habitat for them, " Behera noted.

 

The principal reason for the drastic decline could be the use of chemicals and

pesticide in grains on which sparrows feed, wildlife officials said.