KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK ON ALERT FOR BIRD FLU

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-11/03/content_3725022.htm  

Indian national park on alert for bird flu

 

www.chinaview.cn 2005-11-03 14:54:34

 

 

NEW DELHI, Nov. 3 (Xinhuanet) - A national park in northeast India's Assam

is on the alert of bird flu when migratory birds began flying from the north for

winter, Indo-Asian News Service reported Thursday.

 

Thousands of bar-headed-geese, the world's highest-altitude migrants, are

flying from Tibet and Siberia to Kaziranga National Park during this time of the

year. Other migratory birds flying there include the graylag geese, ruddy

shelduck, gadwall, falcatedduck, and the red-crested pochard.

 

India has reported no case of bird flu so far but concerns are mounting

since the virus could be spread by migratory birds.

 

" There is no need for panic but we don't want to take any chances, "

Kaziranga park warden N.K. Vasu said.

 

The park administration has asked its workers to keep a strict vigil and

monitor any abnormality in migratory birds or their carcasses found inside the

park.

 

A veterinarian and a research officer in the park have returnedfrom a

weeklong training on dealing with avian flu in Kolkata.

 

" The field veterinarian and the research officer are now sharing their

expertise among the forest rangers and guards so that we can take necessary

precautionary measures in the event of the bird flu hitting the park, " Vasu

said.

 

The 430-sq km Kaziranga National Park, 220 km east of Assam's main city

Guwahati, are sheltering about 300 endangered bird species, including about 100

types of migratory birds. Enditem