Corporation ducks missing from lake in soup?

Early in September, Corporation officials, along with the Public Health Department let 205 ducks into the Korattur lake after local residents complained that midges (a small twowinged fly that breeds near water) were making their lives miserable. However, the number of ducks gradually came downtand it was solely attributed to poaching by locals. “I have been seeing lot of ducks in the lake from the very first day the officials let them into it. However, the numbers are on the decline now,” said M Kaliyappan, a resident of the locality. 

Some residents said though the Health department officials posted a watchman to monitor the ducks, they rarely saw him at his post. “The officials should give strict instruction to the watchman to protect the ducks”, he said. The absence of a watchman has emboldened some local poachers to spirit away the birds in the dead of night to satisfy their culinary cravings. Another resident said if it was not the poachers, dogs killed some ducks once they ventured onto terra firma and added that after the officials let the ducks into the lake last month, no one bothered to come back and do a study. 

Dr. Sheela, Additional Health Officer (AHO), Ambattur Zone, told DTNext that she visited the lake on Friday and noticed the decline in the number of ducks. “When I enquired about the ducks, I was told that some ducks ventured into the far reaches of the lake and did not return. I have formed a four-member committee to monitor the movement of the birds,” she said. Dr P Manidurai Manoharan David, Professor Tamil Nadu Agricultural University said, “Poor sanitary conditions and   underground water drainage system add to the problem of midges.”