Fwd: (IN) ERN Peacock deaths averted

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" Dr. Pradeep Sharma " <pradeep wrote: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:54:13

+0530

ernmembers (AT) googl (DOT) com

ERN Re: Peacock deaths averted

" Dr. Pradeep Sharma " <pradeep

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

I would like to appreciate and thank Mr Chahal and Dr Jain for all they did to

save the Birds.

 

I have also been witness to case of pesticide poisoning of Peacock (Pavo

cristasus) last year. I observed a peacock with acute symptoms like wriggled

neck, ptosis of eyelids and difficulty in breathing; typical symptom of acute

Pesticide toxicity affecting nervous system. Administration of Atropine sulphate

as a remedy along with Vitamin B-Supplements assisted in recovery of the bird

for a while but could not avert death 18 hours after the treatment.

Interestingly this mortality was in notice of forest official and Vet in Govt

hospital but for reason best known to them, the postmortem was not performed

there as well. Subsequently further personal enquiries revealed that the farm

where the bird was found, was sown with pesticide treated wheat seeds a day

before.

 

Such cases, in my knowledge, are generally outcome of intentional poisoning by

some tribal folks or accidental poisoning by ingesting pesticide treated grains

in agricultural fields.

 

I would like to throw light on some relevant points here.

 

1. Mineral and Vitamin deficiency is generally seen in captive birds feeding on

a definitive nutritional plane not in wild birds. However expressions of such

deficiencies can be outcome of altered metabolic disorders due to other

extrinsic factors including poisoning and is not supposed to affect many birds

in wild simultaneously as this is a nutritional disorder not a disease.

 

1. Postmortem findings in such cases are not always conclusive unless supported

by Biochemical tests focused on blood level of certain compounds (eg.

metabolites of poisons, acetylcholine esterase-Ach level etc).

 

2. Most appropriate and scientific method to establish mortality due to

pesticide poisoning is to go for chemical analysis of gut content of dead bird

along with tissues like liver and kidney. These processes like Gas

chromatography (GC) or High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) are very

very sensitive but very complex and expensive on the other hand.

 

3. Since Peacock is a national bird, most people try, be it a forest official or

a vet, to evade responsibilities as one postmortem does not affect their salary

structure saving legal complexities associated with handling such cases.

 

4. Concerned over wildlife mortalities and many others dangerous effects of

hazardous chemicals, The Rotterdam convention was held in the Netherlands in

1998. The convention promotes the safe use of these chemicals, help countries

involved in the trend to identify potential hazards and excludes the chemical

that can not be managed safely. India is still in accession phase of the

ratification and has not accepted the ratification so far. Agro-chemical

industry in India is a multi billion dollar industry for that matter.

 

The magnitude of this problem is very high and resulting into a significant loss

of wildlife mainly in birds more then it appears. Spread of awareness coupled

with stringent law enforcement about pesticide use, is the only solution to

avoid such mortalities in future. For example 'Eldrin' a common pesticide has

been banned by honourable supreme court back in 1989 citing its adverse impact

on wildlife but it is still available at shops dealing in agro-chemicals in

North India.

 

Wishes,

 

Dr. Pradeep Sharma

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:13:59 +0530, Dr.Sandeep Kumar Jain wrote:

 

> Peacocks of village Ucchi Daud in Ludhiana district started dyeing this year

too. This has been happened for 4Th time in past 5-6 years. In the first

Instance, about 10 peacocks died and few carcasses were recovered from Nomads.

They were found to be feeding poison laced grains to the birds. The accused were

arrested and presented to court.

> The village is a very good abode and many educated folks love trees,

environment and try to save the wildlife. One such person is Harvinder Singh

Chahal, a School Teacher who brought this into notice of Authorities and came in

contact with undersigned.

> Next year 2-3 birds died. He informed me and matter was taken up with wildlife

(forest officials) but nothing came out as the officials buried the bodies

without post mortem. It was again thought that this may be the handiwork of

poachers. Harvinder was very anxious and upset due to lethargy of forest

officials.

> Last year Harvinder Chahal brought one male peacock to Jeev Kalian Kendra

Bhagwan Mahavir Abhay Shala(Rescue centre) at Ludhiana for treatment. It could

not be saved as it was having symptoms of turning of neck. The forest officials

reported very late to take the body so postmortem could not be done this time.

Poisoning or neurological disorder (Ranikhet�s disease) was suspected.

> On 5th October undersigned got a telephone from Canada by Harvinder Singh

Chahal (who has immigrated to Canada). He told about death of a peacock two days

ago and also told that one female peacock has died in night & a Male is also

lying sick and cannot stand properly. He was asked to send his village folk to

GADVASU (Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Science University, Ludhiana) with

carcass of female and sick male peacock. Undersigned informed the Chief Wildlife

Warden,Punjab and got the peacock examined. The Peahen was subjected to

postmortem and no traces of poison were found. However due to decomposition of

its body other tests could not be performed. The veterinary experts prescribed

some vitamins and minerals as they suspected some vitamin and mineral deficiency

as they suspected some vitamin and mineral deficiency. Now the sick peacock is

recovering at having medicines and food.

> Dr.Sandeep K.Jain

> Hon.Wildlife Warden

> & Chief Coordinator,

> CAPE-India

> Ludhiana

>

>

> Dr.Sandeep K.Jain

>