Rajkot: Various avian species continued to drop dead in bird-flu hit Gujarat.
In the 48 hours ending Sunday evening, deaths of birds were reported from Kutch, Gondal taluka of Rajkot district and Gir-Somnath district.
According to forest department officials, around 38 birds, mostly cormorants, were found dead in the lake of Bhimasar village near Anjar town of Kutch on Saturday afternoon. Anxious villagers informed the animal husbandry and forest departments about the mysterious deaths. Officials took samples from the spot and these were sent to the specialized laboratory in Bhopal for confirmation of bird flu.
In Shivragadh village of Gondal taluka, eight red-wattled lapwings were found dead on Sunday. Forest department officials collected samples of some carcases and sent them for testing.
Kanji Dabhi, a farm labourer in the village, spotted the dead birds near Bhadar River and alerted local social worker Chandresh Pandya.
"We have taken the samples from the spot and are awaiting the exact cause of deaths,'' said Pratipalsinh Chudasama, forester, Rajkot forest division.
It must be noted that bird flu was confirmed in a lapwing that was found dead in Manavadar taluka of Junagadh last week.
Similarly, four demoiselle cranes were found dead in Dolasa village of the coastal Gir-Somnath district where migratory birds flock in large numbers during winter.
Savji Vaghashiya, deputy director, animal husbandry department, Junagadh, said, "In the last 10 days, 18 birds have been found dead in the village. We visited Dolasa and the primary probe suggested that the birds were killed by wild animals and nothing suspicious was found from the spot. However, we are not taking chances, so the samples have been sent to Bhopal laboratory.”
Sources said that the cranes fell while flying and were found dead in a farm in Dolasa.
The state government has announced closure of four bird sanctuaries and bird sections of zoos across the state.