A large number of migratory birds were found dead at a farmland near Ratamati village under the Tangi Forest Range in Khordha district on Saturday morning.
Getting information, forest officials rushed to the spot and collected samples from the carcasses of the birds for postmortem.
The officials suspected that unidentified poachers might have laid traps and poisoned the migratory birds to death. However, the exact reason behind the incident would be ascertained from the postmortem reports.
However, theTangi Range Officer refuted the death of large number of birds and said around 30 to 40 dead birds were found in the farmland.
The range officer said that due to the high demand for aquatic bird meat in nearby towns like Bhubaneswar, Balugaon and Brahmapur, poaching activity has been increasing in the Chilika Lake and its adjoining areas.
It is also being alleged that aquatic bird meat is also being sold at the roadside dhabas along the National Highway-16 passing close to the lake.