In the backdrop of the bird flu outbreak at Mysuru zoo, the district administration has launched an extensive surveillance programme at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary and Kokkare Bellur.
Ranganathittu, near Srirangapatna, and Kokkare Bellur, a small hamlet on the banks of the Shimsha in Maddur, are considered havens for migratory birds to roost and breed. A team of officials headed by Deputy Commissioner S. Ziyaulla visited both the places on Friday. Mr. Ziyaulla inspected some of the birds, collected details pertaining to their health, and instructed the officials concerned to be extra cautious.
So far, the birds there have been found to be safe, but the department is monitoring their behaviour constantly, said L. Prakash, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. He told The Hindu that officials are collecting bird droppings from both Ranganathittu and Kokkare Bellur on a regular basis. “We will send the samples to the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals and are also considering sending them to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal,” he said.
Poultry farms
The district administration has also directed the owners of all poultry farms to take precautions to prevent an outbreak, Mr. Prakash said.
There are 251 poultry farms in the district, including 24 layers and 227 broiler varieties. They have a stock of around 7.5 lakh birds, while the backyard farms (poultry chicken) have around four lakh birds.
