This is what vigilance looks like in real time.
At Augram Math, Murshidabad HEAL’s rapid response team intercepted illegal mist nets laid out to trap migratory Bogari (larks and pipits) by poachers.
✅ 9 Bogari birds rescued alive ❌ 300 metres of illegal mist net destroyed on site
On the ground were our field team members Rabin Mahata, Aditya Pardhan, Subrata Saha and Buddhave Rava working alongside 2 Forest Department staff and 1 Police personnel.
No poacher was apprehended this time. But the birds are free.
The nets are gone. And the message is clear — this landscape is being watched.
Every metre of net removed prevents countless more deaths. Every rescue disrupts the organised chain of seasonal bird hunting. This is why early awareness drives, village outreach, surveillance and rapid response matter.
Poachers may lay traps and nets anywhere, anytime and we must be ready — day or night.
Sustained action on the ground requires sustained support.
Your contribution helps us:
• Keep field teams deployed
• Dismantle trap nets quickly
• Rescue and release trapped birds
• Continue outreach across vulnerable villages
These few migration months are critical for migratory birds. If you believe these winged travellers deserve safe passage across our fields and wetlands — stand with us. Support now: https://healearth.in/end-migratory-bird-poaching/
What is a Bogari?
A “bogari bird” is not a single specific bird species. In some parts of eastern India, especially West Bengal), “Bogari” is a local name used for small migratory birds like larks and pipits.
Most commonly it refers to birds such as:
- Short‑toed Lark
- Other small larks and pipits that migrate to India in winter.
Characteristics
- Small brown birds that live in open fields and farmlands
- Usually travel in large flocks
- Feed on seeds and insects
- Migrate from Central Asia and northern regions to India during winter
Illegal Trapping to Sell Bogari for Meat
Every year between October and April, huge flocks of these birds arrive in central West Bengal (districts like Murshidabad, Birbhum, and Bardhaman). They come from Central Asia, Mongolia, and Russia to escape harsh winters. They usually rest in large flocks on harvested paddy fields at night.
Poachers know this behaviour and plan their hunting around it.
The most common technique is mist-net trapping.
How it works
- Poachers plant bamboo poles in fields.
- Between the poles they stretch very fine nylon nets, locally made. (often 20 meters or more long).
- These nets are almost invisible to birds.
When flocks fly low over the field, they slam into the net and become tangled.
Sometimes 100–150 birds can be trapped in a single attempt.
What happens to trapped birds
- Wings get twisted or broken.
- Birds panic and struggle violently, making injuries worse.
- Some die in the net before poachers collect them.
Mist nets also trap other species accidentally, including owls and waterbirds.
Once birds are trapped:
- Poachers untangle them from the nets.
- They are stuffed into baskets, sacks, or small bags.
- Hundreds may be stacked together.
Some birds are killed immediately by slitting their throats. Others are transported alive but cramped, where many suffocate. The birds are then moved to markets and roadside eateries. They are transported in Auto-rickshaws with loud music to hide bird sounds and baskets on the roofs of buses. The meat is considered a local delicacy in some areas.
The scale is enormous. Around 100,000–150,000 birds may be hunted every season in parts of West Bengal.
HEAL’s Intervention Since 2022
Here is what HEAL does on the ground,
Patrolling fields and wetlands to stop poachers
During the migration season (October–April), HEAL teams patrol areas where birds are commonly hunted to,
- Monitor farmlands and wetlands where birds gather
- Look for mist nets and traps set by poachers
- Use drones and surveillance to detect illegal activity
If we find traps, we remove them immediately. In just two migratory seasons past years we destroyed 100–120 km of trapping nets.
Rescuing trapped birds
When birds are caught in nets, HEAL volunteers carefully remove them and release them back into the wild.
Working with police and forest officials
We find strength in the on ground support and cooperation of,
- Forest Department
- Local police
- District authorities
We collect information about poachers and pass it to officials, leading to raids and arrests of illegal hunters.
Educating local communities
Another major part of our work is changing people’s attitudes.
We run awareness campaigns by:
- Putting permanent metal warning signboards about wildlife laws in vulnerable villages
- Distributing leaflets and posters
- Making loudspeaker announcements in villages
- Encouraging locals to report poaching
- Awareness programmes in local schools
Over time, this has made many villagers start reporting poachers instead of helping them.
Legal action and policy advocacy
HEAL also works in the legal system by working with district-level committees to enforce wildlife laws in an around the vulnerable regions.
Support now: https://healearth.in/end-migratory-bird-poaching/