A migratory seagull attached with a GPS tracking device was found injured along the Karwar coastline in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, raising concerns among locals and security agencies. The bird was discovered on Tuesday at Rabindranath Tagore Beach by personnel from the Coastal Marine Police Cell.
According to police officials, the injured seagull was later handed over to the forest department wing for care and examination. During the inspection, authorities noticed that the bird had a GPS tracker tied to its body. The device included an electronic unit along with a small solar panel, indicating it was meant for long-term tracking.
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tracking device with an email id
Officials also found an email address attached to the tracking device. Along with it was a message requesting anyone who found the bird to contact the mentioned email ID. Upon verification, police said the email address is linked to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which identifies itself as a Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences.
Following the discovery, authorities began examining multiple angles related to the incident. As per reports, Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan MN stated, "Several angles are being examined, including whether the bird was part of a scientific research project to study migratory patterns."
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The incident has drawn added attention because of Karwar’s strategic significance. The coastal town hosts one of India’s most important naval bases, making any unusual activity in the region a matter of interest for security agencies.
At present, officials have not drawn any conclusions and have said that investigations are ongoing. The focus remains on understanding the purpose of the GPS tracker and confirming whether the tagging was part of a legitimate research exercise. Meanwhile, the injured seagull continues to be monitored by the forest department.
