The Sultanpur National Park has been shut for a week after 47 birds, mostly Eurasian coots, were found dead inside the sanctuary.
The park management said the dead birds were discovered on Saturday and sent for avian flu tests, though they didn't show signs of an H5NI infection. They believe the deaths were caused by pesticides in crops but decided to close the park immediately as a precautionary measure.
District forest officer (wildlife) K S Khetkar said, "Prima facie, the deaths seem to have happened after the birds ate pesticide-infested crops at a nearby field. They move in flocks, which is why the entire group of birds died at once. In case of bird flu, birds develop red spots in their legs. None of the birds that died had these spots."
Of the 47 birds found dead, 36 were Eurasian coots, nine common moorhen, one spot-billed duck and one jungle babbler. Khetkar said a team of doctors had examined the carcasses on Saturday after which they were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal for avian flu tests. The report is expected within a week.
Sultanpur National Park shut after 47 birds die - The Times of India
The park management said the dead birds were discovered on Saturday and sent for avian flu tests, though they didn't show signs of an H5NI infection. They believe the deaths were caused by pesticides in crops but decided to close the park immediately as a precautionary measure.
District forest officer (wildlife) K S Khetkar said, "Prima facie, the deaths seem to have happened after the birds ate pesticide-infested crops at a nearby field. They move in flocks, which is why the entire group of birds died at once. In case of bird flu, birds develop red spots in their legs. None of the birds that died had these spots."
Of the 47 birds found dead, 36 were Eurasian coots, nine common moorhen, one spot-billed duck and one jungle babbler. Khetkar said a team of doctors had examined the carcasses on Saturday after which they were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal for avian flu tests. The report is expected within a week.
Sultanpur National Park shut after 47 birds die - The Times of India