Sonai: Facebook Live Allegedly Shows Illegal Bird Hunting, Viral Video Sparks Concern

A video allegedly showing a group of young men hunting a bird and later displaying it during a Facebook Live session has gone viral on social media, causing concern among wildlife lovers in Cachar district.

The video is reportedly from Madhurbond village under the Sonai Assembly constituency. It allegedly shows several youths hunting a bird believed to be an egret. The bird is then reportedly displayed by the group, while parts of the incident were recorded on a mobile phone.

According to allegations circulating on social media, the bird was also killed during a Facebook Live session. The video was reportedly uploaded from a Facebook profile named ‘Gangstar Team Amjur Ghat’ and later spread widely across social media platforms.

The authenticity, date and full circumstances of the video have not been independently verified.

The incident has drawn criticism from wildlife lovers, who have urged the authorities to identify those involved and investigate whether any wildlife protection laws were violated. They have also called for appropriate legal action if the allegations are found to be true.

The wildlife enthusiasts have urged the Cachar district administration, police and Forest Department to examine the video, identify the people involved and take action according to law.

The incident has also renewed concerns over the hunting of wild birds and the recording and promotion of such acts on social media. Authorities are yet to publicly comment on the alleged incident.

The egret, locally known as ‘Bok’, is protected under India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Several egret species, including the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Great Egret and Little Egret, are listed in the Act’s protected schedules. The protection is important because egrets are part of wetland and agricultural ecosystems, where they help control insects and other small animals. Their conservation also supports biodiversity and maintains ecological balance. Hunting or killing protected wild birds can therefore have legal and environmental consequences.