India, April 5 -- Birds that prey on fish in wetlands and ponds have been left to the mercy (or a complete lack of it) of commercial fish contractors. Though birds enjoy statutory safeguards and their killing is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, they are being netted and left to die in agony, often hanging upside down for hours before the mercy of death delivers them from a cold-blooded human agency.

Fact is, the forest and wildlife department does precious little to keep a watch on birds in areas where commercial fisheries have been licensed. Fish-hunting birds flock naturally to water bodies, which were earlier free of commercial fisheries but have since been turned into veritable minefields by vigilant ch...