Despite spending lakhs of rupees on the conservation of State bird ‘Maina’, the sword is still hanging over its existence. In a fresh bid to give it another chance to flourish and expand its family, the Forest Department is considering to shift the cage of the Maina from Forest College premises to Kanger Valley National Park area.
Notably, after the formation of Chhattisgarh, the State Government had accorded ‘State Bird’ status to Maina with strict instructions to the forest department for making efforts to conserve and replicate the species facing extinction.
In its bid to revive the family of Maina, forest department constructed a huge cage and set up it on the premises of Forest College here with a view to providing favourable condition for captive breeding to the bird. Total 6 Mainas were kept in the cage. However, four of the birds died, one due to snake bite, one from dehydration in summer season and two of unknown reason, increasing the concern of forest department officials as all of their efforts had gone in vain.
According to forest department sources, so far Rs 32 lakh has been spent on Maina captive breeding scheme even as the result was cipher.
Now, on the advice of experts, the department is planning to shift the cage from Forest College premises to Kanger Valley National Park with a view to provide Natural environment to Maina.