After the Environment Ministry’s ban on the sale of peacock feathers, other birds like egrets are becoming victims of poachers for their plumes. Its white feathers are used for decorating the Dhaki (drum) by the traditional drummers particularly during Dussehra, and on headgear during social events such as weddings. The owl trade, on the other hand, picks up for occult practices prior to Diwali.
According to Atul Sathe, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the ornamental plumes of egrets that are known in the wildlife trade as ‘aigrettes’ or ‘ospreys’ are often used as decorative materials during social and festive occasions. These feathers are largely the breeding plumage that grows between March - September, which are the breeding season for these birds.
“The Gulgulia and Bahelia tribes from Eastern India are largely involved in poaching. They sell their feathers to middlemen and retailers,” he said.While the “aigrettes” are used as ornamentation on headgear during social events such as weddings, the flying feathers or primaries of egrets are also used for embellishing the Dhaki.
“The irony is that most post-harvest festivals celebrate natural beauty and the bountiful crops. Instead, they have become occasions to target these birds for their plumes. Not only does the practice raise serious conservation issues, but also throws light upon the manner in which we have deviated from tradition,” said Sathe.
All egret species in India are protected under the Schedule-IV of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and killing them is a punishable offence.
Further, with Diwali round the corner, the poaching of owls also continues unabated, lamented Abrar Ahmad, ornithologist, who had researched on illegal owl trade. The trading of owls is a flourishing business in the national capital region and Uttar Pradesh, despite persistent efforts made by the authorities to put an end to it. The practice of sacrificing owl begins after Dussehra and peaks on Diwali. Occult practitioners say that sacrificing the bird on the night of the festival brings wealth and fortune.
The cost of each owl varies anywhere from `50 to `70,000 during the festival season. A tantric usually slits the throat of an owl, and offers prayers to appease the gods. Nearly all parts of the bird’s body including the skull, feathers, ear-tuffs, claws, heart, liver, kidney, blood, eyes, fat, beak, tears, eggshells, meat and bones are used in such practices, he said. Those with false “ear-tufts” feather extensions on the head, are specially in demand as they are considered to have greater magical properties.