A spot-billed pelican died and three more were found exhausted owing to suspected verminous petechial haemorrhage after they fell from trees at Kokkare Bellur on Tuesday. According to the Forest Department and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, the birds were found to be weak and sitting on tree branches on Monday evening. Their condition worsened and they fell from trees on Tuesday.
Following this, personnel concerned from the departments inspected the village. The carcasses/samples will be sent to the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary, Biologicals, Bengaluru, for tests, a senior official of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, told The Hindu. As many as five pelicans have died at the village over the past two weeks. The birds died because of internal bleeding owing to overload of worms in their stomach, he added.
“We will take measures to provide the bird antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicine, and medicines to combat verminous petechial haemorrhage,” the official added.
The death of the winged visitors had triggered panic among environmentalists and the departments concerned.
