(IN):Migratory birds to be monitored

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http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2008/at07

 

Migratory birds to be monitored

 

Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 19 – Personnel of the State Forest Department have been

issued instructions to keep an eye on migratory birds and to be especially

aware of any change in their behaviour. This is in view of the some

unauthenticated reports that wild birds could have acted as vectors of bird

flu in Assam. There also have been incidents in the State in which people

have sought to slaughter wild birds believing them to carriers of the bird

flu virus.

 

Chief Wildlife Warden Assam, MC Malakar told *The Assam Tribune* that strict

directives have been given to forest personnel, who would observe all

migratory birds in the days ahead, and in case of any signs get in touch

with personnel of the veterinary department.

 

The personnel have been asked to monitor signs of tremor, un-coordinated

movements and loose stool. All these are among the symptoms of bird flu.

 

When asked if bird flu in migratory birds in India and neighbouring areas

have been brought to his notice, he replied in the negative.

 

Front line forest personnel in Kaziranga National Park and a few other

protected areas with water bodies have not reported any sightings of unusual

behaviour in birds so far.

 

Even though migratory birds have not been held responsible for carrying bird

flu in NE India, the state of alertness should not be lowered, he added.

 

In the worst-case scenario of migratory birds being found to be carriers of

the bird flu virus, he revealed that if at all that happened, domestic

poultry in adjoining areas would have to be quarantined to prevent the

intermingling with wild species as there is little that could be done to

restrict the movement of wild birds.

 

Migratory birds, including significant numbers of water birds, have touched

down in water bodies of Assam and some parts of the North East since ancient

times. Some of those are highly endangered and others wing through high

altitude as they cross the Himalayan ranges to spend the winter in milder

climates.

 

Worryingly, in a recent report Japanese and American studies have pointed to

genetic evidence that wild migratory birds may carry the avian influenza

virus between Asia and North America. Scientists of Tokyo University and US

Fish and Wildlife service have found that migratory birds " might be more

important carriers of avian influenza than previously thought. "

 

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