A routine beach walk along the Karnataka coast took an unexpected turn into a national security discussion when locals found an injured seagull fitted with a GPS tracker linked to a Chinese research institute. The bird was spotted near the strategically significant INS Kadamba naval base, sparking online speculation about espionage, though officials are leaning toward a scientific explanation.

Forest department teams rescued the exhausted migratory bird from Timmakka Garden and Rabindranath Tagore Beach in Uttara Kannada district. Attached to the bird’s back was a lightweight solar-powered GPS device with details from China’s Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Tracker data revealed that the seagull had traveled over 10,000 kilometers, likely via Arctic routes, before crash-landing on India’s shores, highlighting the arduous journeys migratory birds undertake.

The discovery, just miles from a major naval installation, immediately fueled “spy bird” rumors on social media, reminiscent of previous incidents where birds like ringed pigeons were mistakenly suspected of espionage. Karwar Superintendent of Police Deepan MN confirmed that authorities are investigating, communicating with the Chinese institute, and coordinating with naval officials. Early assessments indicate the bird was most likely part of routine wildlife tracking for migration studies, similar to global initiatives by organizations such as BirdLife International, which monitor the impact of climate change on avian routes.

The seagull is now receiving care at a local marine forest office, being treated for exhaustion. The incident underscores the intersection of advanced conservation technology and coastal security in India, a country maintaining high vigilance amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Experts are expected to release updates as they analyze the full data from the tracker.