An injured migratory sea bird carrying a China-linked GPS tracker has raised security concerns along the Karnataka coast. Authorities found the bird near a strategically important naval area in Karwar.
Coastal Marine Police spotted the injured seagull on Tuesday at Ravindranath Tagore Beach. The officers immediately informed forest department officials and handed over the bird for treatment.
During an inspection, officials noticed a GPS tracking device attached to the bird’s body. The device included a small solar panel, which drew further attention from investigators.
Officials found an email ID and a message on the tracker. The message requested information if anyone discovered the bird. Police traced the email ID to the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Following this discovery, authorities began contacting the institution to seek clarification. They aim to confirm whether the tracker served a scientific research purpose.
Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Dipan M.N. said investigators are examining all possible angles. He stated that officials want to determine if the device supports migratory bird research or has another intent.
Security agencies increased vigilance due to the location’s proximity to a key naval base. Officials noted that while bird tracking is common in research, the sensitive location makes the incident significant.
Authorities continue the investigation and will take action after completing all necessary checks.
