BHUBANESWAR: The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) authorities are facing a tough time to tackle the menace of wild animals and birds over the last one year. Twelve days after a monkey made its way into the Domestic Terminal building of BPIA, a jackal was captured in a trap set up by the airport security in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Officials of BPIA said they found the animal trapped at a vantage point near the perimeter boundary of the airport.
Airport authorities informed about their catch to Forest Department officials who took custody of the animal and released it in Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary.
Flight operations were not affected as the animal was caught at a place far away from the runway.
BPIA Director R Mahalingam said during a scheduled inspection near the perimeter wall last night, security personnel noticed the movement of an animal following which a cage was planted in the area.
Sources said animals can easily jump over the outer wall protecting the airport.
BPIA authorities had come in for sharp criticism after the monkey episode on April 8. The simian managed to sneak into the new terminal and had to be tranquillised before being released in the jungle.
Sources said a number of street-side eateries have come up on the new Baramunda-Jagamara road, which runs perpendicular to the runway of BPIA. The food stalls and leftovers attract animals and birds to the stretch. The airport authorities, however, have remained indifferent to the menace.