The scare of Avian Influenza gripped Gurugram after a dozen crows and egrets were found dead in Tau Devi Lal Biodiversity and Botanical Park, Sector 52 and nearby areas in the district over the last two days.
Talking to ‘The Pioneer’ over the phone, Sultanpur National park (wildlife) Inspector Rajesh Chahal said that wildlife officials acted swiftly after being informed. Initially, they started the investigation about the cause of death. Later, the samples of dead crows and egrets were taken and sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar to identify the cause of death. Reports are expected to be received in the next couple of days. However, no case of bird flu has been reported in the district yet, but a caution has been sounded and the health department is on alert, he added.
Chahal further said that after this incident, teams of the Wildlife Department are keeping round-the-clock vigil. However, no casualty has been reported so far in the wetlands of Sultanpur Lake and Bhindawas where thousands of migratory birds have arrived for their annual sojourn.
Another wildlife official said that it was in the morning when people, who went to Tau Devi Lal Biodiversity and Botanical Park, Sector 52 for morning walk, spotted the crows dead under a tree on Thursday, and at 6 pm on Friday. They immediately informed the district administration. Wildlife officials rushed to the spot, and it may be noted that one crow was also found dead in Sultanpur lake area a few days ago.
The stray incidence of crows and egrets’ deaths in the district has triggered bird-flu scare. The State already has a confirmed case of avian flu in Panchkula. The fire force retrieved the carcass and officials with the animal husbandry department sent the samples to Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar to identify the cause of death. The officials of the Forest and wildlife department were receiving reports of deaths of crows in the area. But nothing concrete was found there earlier.
When contacted Haryana Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) ML Rajvanshi, said that five crows and one egret were found dead near Tau Devi Lal Biodiversity and Botanical Park, Sector 52 and as a part of precautionary measures, the samples were sent for detailed tests in the wake of bird flu outbreak in Panchkula where avian influenza was confirmed in domestic poultry, forcing mass culling of birds and also in view of the death of thousands of migratory birds in the Pong Dam of Himachal Pradesh due to bird flu. Teams have been told to report back if fresh bird carcasses are found, he added.
He further said, “We are on the alert. Our teams have been keeping a watch 24x7 on a rotational basis. A group of individuals who provide extra information about the birds or aquatic species and habitat, and local riparian residents had been roped in to keep an eye on any abnormal behaviour of water fowls. The officials have been asked to create awareness that any sighting of a dead bird by volunteers, bird watchers and others should be reported to the nearest forest/animal husbandry office.”
Rajvanshi further said, "We so far have no confirmed instance of flu and people should abstain from undue panic. It's people working in poultry farms who need to be cautious. We are taking all precautions."
