Over 1700 migratory birds found dead under mysterious circumstance at Pong Dam sanctuary in Himachal

Mangalore Today News Network

Chandigarh, Jan 04, 2021:     Over 1700 migratory birds in Himachal Pradesh’s famous Pong Dam sanctuary were found dead under mysterious circumstances and this has left the authorities worried. Most of the bird deaths were reported in Jagmoli and Guglada areas of Dhameta and Nagrota Surian forest beats.

 

Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Hamirpur Division Rahul Rohane told India Today that 15 samples collected from various locations have been sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareily, Northern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NRDDL)in Jalandhar and High-Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal to determine to the case of death.

"We are expecting viral, bacterial and pathogen test reports within a couple of days. Till then, we cannot say the birds died of avian flu but we are initially suspecting it to be a flu as the birds are dying in large numbers," Rahul Rohane said.

Wildlife officials say over 95 per cent of birds found dead are Bar Headed Geese who migrate from Siberia and Mongolia. According to an estimate migratory birds, a toatl of 1.15- 1.20 lakh birds migrate to Pong Dam bird sanctuary during winters every year and nest up to four months in the sanctuary.

Meanwhile, the state forest department has launched a flu surveillance in the wetland. The sampling of dead birds is also being done. In March last year, all samples were found negative for avian flu.

Dharamshala district administration has banned all tourist activities in and around the Pong Dam Sanctuary as a precautionary measure till further orders.

This comes after bird flu virus was detected in crows, whose carcasses were found in some places in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Kunji Lal Meena, Rajasthan principal secretary, said on Sunday that 47 crows have died in Kota, 100 in Jhalawar and 72 in Baran till now.
The bird flu virus was also detected in around 50 crows whose carcasses were found in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore. "Nearly 50 crows were found dead on the campus of The Daly College in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Tuesday. Some of the carcasses were sent for tests to Bhopal. They were found to be carrying the H5N8 virus," Indore chief medical and health officer Poornima Gadaria said.

Courtesy:India Today