Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\03\story_3-7-2008_pg13_7
80 fancy birds die ?mysteriously? at Jallo Park
* Sources say improper feed, harsh weather and lack of medical facilities behind deaths
* Say most birds buried without autopsies
* Jallo Park assistant director says 40 birds might have died in seven months
* Says autopsies have been conducted, keeping mortality rate of chicks low is impossible
By Anwer Hussain Sumra
LAHORE: As many as 80 fancy imported birds worth millions of rupees died mysteriously at Jallo Park between November 2007 and May 2008, according to the park?s official record, a copy of which is available with Daily Times.
Sources said on Wednesday that the birds had died owing to poor hygiene, harsh weather and bad nutrition and lack of medical facilities at the park.
According to data complied at the office of the Jallo Park assistant director (wildlife), 80 wild birds including ringneck pheasants, reeves pheasants, black shoulder peacocks, green pheasants, Siler pheasants, tragopan, common pheasants, java green pheasants, pigeons and black and brown partridges died mysteriously in seven months (November 2007-May 2008) in their cages
The record said that the government had established Jallo Park in 1978 over 450 acres to provide picnic facilities to the people and for wild species.
Autopsies: Sources said the park management did not provide proper feed to the birds. They said that the feed provided was substandard and less in weight. ?When a wild animal/bird dies mysteriously at any park, it is necessary to ensure it?s autopsy from the veterinary hospital concerned to find out the cause of death. However, the Jallo Park administration has not conducted autopsies of most dead birds, and it buried them in the park,? they added. They said that the park did not have any veterinary doctor to treat ailing animals.
Wrong figure: Jallo Park Assistant Director Muhammad Anwer Maan told Daily Times the number of dead birds was wrong. ?Around 40 birds might have died during the said period,? he said. He said that it was impossible to keep the mortality rate of chicks low because some of them were born ill and disabled. ?Such chicks die in their early days, even after initial medical treatment,? he added.
Concerning the birds? nutrition, he said that efforts were being made to provide a clean environment and proper feed to the birds at the park. He said that workers were providing medical treatment to ailing animals and birds. ?The dead birds? autopsies were carried out at a veterinary hospital, but I will not show them to you,? he added.
80 fancy birds die ?mysteriously? at Jallo Park
* Sources say improper feed, harsh weather and lack of medical facilities behind deaths
* Say most birds buried without autopsies
* Jallo Park assistant director says 40 birds might have died in seven months
* Says autopsies have been conducted, keeping mortality rate of chicks low is impossible
By Anwer Hussain Sumra
LAHORE: As many as 80 fancy imported birds worth millions of rupees died mysteriously at Jallo Park between November 2007 and May 2008, according to the park?s official record, a copy of which is available with Daily Times.
Sources said on Wednesday that the birds had died owing to poor hygiene, harsh weather and bad nutrition and lack of medical facilities at the park.
According to data complied at the office of the Jallo Park assistant director (wildlife), 80 wild birds including ringneck pheasants, reeves pheasants, black shoulder peacocks, green pheasants, Siler pheasants, tragopan, common pheasants, java green pheasants, pigeons and black and brown partridges died mysteriously in seven months (November 2007-May 2008) in their cages
The record said that the government had established Jallo Park in 1978 over 450 acres to provide picnic facilities to the people and for wild species.
Autopsies: Sources said the park management did not provide proper feed to the birds. They said that the feed provided was substandard and less in weight. ?When a wild animal/bird dies mysteriously at any park, it is necessary to ensure it?s autopsy from the veterinary hospital concerned to find out the cause of death. However, the Jallo Park administration has not conducted autopsies of most dead birds, and it buried them in the park,? they added. They said that the park did not have any veterinary doctor to treat ailing animals.
Wrong figure: Jallo Park Assistant Director Muhammad Anwer Maan told Daily Times the number of dead birds was wrong. ?Around 40 birds might have died during the said period,? he said. He said that it was impossible to keep the mortality rate of chicks low because some of them were born ill and disabled. ?Such chicks die in their early days, even after initial medical treatment,? he added.
Concerning the birds? nutrition, he said that efforts were being made to provide a clean environment and proper feed to the birds at the park. He said that workers were providing medical treatment to ailing animals and birds. ?The dead birds? autopsies were carried out at a veterinary hospital, but I will not show them to you,? he added.