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Karwar: A migratory seagull with a Chinese GPS tracker was found in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, sending security agencies into a frenzy and sparking concerns among residents. The bird was found near the coastal belt of Karwar, close to a sensitive naval zone, on Tuesday, in an injured condition, and a GPS tracking device that belonged to a Chinese institute was found attached to it, officials said.
The discovery prompted security agencies and forest officials to initiate an inquiry. Preliminary findings, however, ruled out the espionage angle and pointed to scientific research, according to officials.
Locals spotted seagull with fitted GPS tracker
The seagull was spotted by local residents resting behind the Thimmakka Garden area near the beach, Police of Karwar Town said. When they took a closer look of the bird, they noticed the unusual tag and found the device suspicious.
The locals then alerted the Marine Wing of the Forest Department. Upon receiving information, forest officials reached the spot and safely captured the bird and examined the device. The bird was later rescued and shifted to the Marine Forest Division office for observation.
GPS tracker belongs to Chinese research institute
The GPS tracker had markings linked to the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Although the markings indicated that the device was used for academic and ecological studies, authorities exercised caution given the strategic importance of the coastal region.
"The tracker appears to have been fitted to study the movement, feeding patterns and migration routes of seagulls. At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest any espionage activity," the police said.
Discovery near sensitive naval base sparks espionage concerns
The latest discovery has triggered security concerns, given the proximity of the INS Kadamba naval base, one of the Indian Navy's most strategic installations, with officials fearing the possibility of sensitive data exposure under the guise of research.
"Wildlife tracking using GPS devices is a globally accepted scientific practice, but the location where the bird was found led to suspicion and therefore multiple agencies were tasked to verify all aspects," the police said, PTI reported.
Officials are trying to reach out to the concerned research institution to inquire about the details of the study, including the origin, timeline and scope of the tracking programme. They said they are awaiting the response of the research body and technical analysis of the device's data transmission capabilities and would take further action accordingly.
A similar incident was reported in November last year when an eagle fitted with a tracking device was spotted within the limits of Baithkol port in Karwar. It was later found that the eagle was linked to wildlife research.
