Bird flu scare in Kheri after 25 vultures found dead

PILIBHIT: Authorities of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Thursday issued an advisory after 25 Himalayan griffon vultures were found dead in a field near the Bhira forest range of North Kheri forest division on Tuesday. Initial reports indicated poisoning, but in view of bird flu cases in neighbouring Nepal, forest officials have not ruled out avian influenza (H5N1). Divisional forest officer (DFO) Kirti Chaudhary said, “The carcasses were sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly to ascertain the exact cause of death. In the absence of pathologists and scientific equipment, we cannot confirm the reason.” She added that field staff found cooked rice laced with insecticide in a sugarcane field, likely kept to kill feral dogs or stray cattle. Two carcasses of feral dogs were also recovered, which were consumed by vultures that later died. “Five vultures in critical condition were rescued from the same field and brought to the range headquarters, where they were given an antidote. They recovered, indicating that the deaths may have been caused by consumption of poisoned carcasses,” she said, adding that confirmation would come after IVRI’s reports. District magistrate Gyanendra Singh said that in view of bird flu cases in Nepal, the state govt has issued an advisory to seven districts in Uttar Pradesh. “A task force comprising officials from animal husbandry, police, forest, irrigation and revenue departments has been formed. The district administration has also set up 16 rapid response teams of veterinary officers, pharmacists and lab technician,” he said. Chief veterinary officer Dr Praveen Kumar Tyagi said teams have been directed to collect oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs of poultry and send them for testing.