BONAI (SUNDARGARH): The Forest Department stepped in to prevent cruel treatment to red-vented bulbul on the occasion of Makar Sankranti when bird fights are organised in many villages under the Bonai sub-division of Sundargarh district.
The forest officials on Saturday visited villages and rescued three red-vented bulbuls and sensitised villagers on the penal provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Bonai DFO AK Mishra said villagers of Kenabhata, Sarsara, Gobindpur and some other interior pockets traditionally organised bulbul fights.
Last year too several villagers were found keeping red-vented bulbul birds in cages. The birds were released with stern warning to villagers, he said adding no reports of bulbul fights were received on Sunday.