GPS tagged seagull found near Karwar naval base: Is China testing ‘spy bird’ tactics in India?

The discovery of a migratory seagull fitted with a GPS tracking device near Karnataka’s Karwar coast has triggered security concerns in India, given the bird’s proximity to a major Indian Navy installation.

The seagull was found on Wednesday near the coastal belt of Karwar in Uttara Kannada district, not far from INS Kadamba, one of India’s most strategic naval bases. The presence of a foreign-made tracking device on the bird prompted an immediate multi-agency investigation.

Local residents spotted the injured seagull resting behind the Thimmakka Garden area near Karwar’s coastline. They noticed a device strapped to the bird’s back and informed the forest department.

The Coastal Marine Police Cell at Rabindranath Tagore Beach in Karwar later captured the bird and handed it over to the forest department, NDTV reported citing police officials.

Forest officials confirmed that the bird was safely secured and examined. The device attached to the seagull included an electronic tracking unit fitted with a small solar panel.

A note was also found attached to the tracker. It carried an email address and a message asking anyone who found the bird to contact the mentioned ID.

During preliminary checks, Indian authorities found that the email address was linked to the Research Center for Eco Environmental Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a government backed research institution based in Beijing.

According to PTI, officials are now attempting to contact the email address to gather information about the tracking project, including where the bird originated from and the scope of the study.

Based on initial findings, authorities said there was no immediate evidence of espionage.

“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.

Data retrieved from the GPS device showed that the seagull had travelled over 10,000 kilometres, including across Arctic regions, before reaching India’s western coast, Times of India reported.

Indian security agencies remain cautious due to the sensitive location where the bird was found.

“Several angles are being examined, including whether the bird was part of a scientific research project to study migratory patterns,” Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan MN told NDTV.

Officials said the device will be sent for a detailed technical examination to rule out any data transmission or surveillance capabilities.

“At present, it appears to be part of a migratory bird research study. We will confirm the findings after detailed verification,” officials said.

Police also stressed that while GPS tracking of wildlife is common worldwide, the location of the find makes thorough verification necessary.

“While wildlife tracking using GPS devices is a globally accepted scientific practice, the location where the bird was found makes it imperative for multiple agencies to verify all aspects,” the police said.

The seagull was found close to INS Kadamba, one of the Indian Navy’s most important bases. The facility hosts key naval assets including aircraft carriers and submarines.

After its planned expansion, INS Kadamba is expected to become the largest naval base in the eastern hemisphere. Because of its strategic value, any unusual activity in the surrounding region attracts heightened scrutiny from Indian security agencies.

Officials said further action will depend on technical analysis of the device and responses received from the Chinese research institution.

This is not the first time India has dealt with suspected spying involving animals.

In 2024, a war eagle fitted with a tracking device was found within the limits of Baithkol port in Karwar. Investigations later confirmed it was part of a wildlife research project.

In February 2024, Mumbai police released a pigeon suspected of being a Chinese spy after keeping it in detention for eight months.

The pigeon was captured at Pir Pau Jetty in Chembur in May 2023 with rings tied to its legs and writing on its wings that appeared to be in Chinese. Police later confirmed it was an open-water racing pigeon from Taiwan that had strayed into India.

“After learning that a pigeon was held at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals in Parel as case property for an astonishing eight months, PETA India sprang into action to secure the bird’s freedom from captivity,” PETA said.

In 2020, Jammu and Kashmir police released a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman after finding no evidence of espionage. Another pigeon was detained in 2016 after it was found carrying a note threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Globally, the use of animals for surveillance has been documented in the past.

In 2019, a white beluga whale named Hvaldimir surfaced near Norway wearing a harness marked “Equipment of St Petersburg” and fitted with a camera mount. The whale was widely suspected to be part of a Russian military programme. Hvaldimir later died in 2024.

For now, Indian authorities say there is no evidence to suggest spying in the Karwar case. Still, given India’s strategic interests along the western coast, security agencies are treating the matter with caution until all technical and diplomatic checks are completed.