More than 1,500 migratory birds were found dead early on Monday (11.11.2019) around Sambhar Lake in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The cause of death is still being examined. Officials are investigating whether the water was toxic or was there any bacterial or viral infection behind this sudden death of birds.According to the locals in the area, the no of dead birds is around 5000.
Sambhar Lake is a recognized wetland of international importance. It gets visits from lakhs of birds every year. One of the cause of death of the birds could be the increase in salinity of water, according to RG Ujjwal, Nodal Officer, Animal Husbandry Department. He said the increased saline content could have affected the salt concentration in the birds’ blood and that might have had its effect.
The dead birds belong to 15 different species that include plovers, common coots, black winged stilts, northern shovelers, ruddy shelduck and pied avocets. 669 birds have been buried while the other birds are being collected from different scattered regions around the lake. The water samples are being sent to a lab in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Ashok Sharma, Joint Director, State Disease Diagnostic center said “We don’t think it is a case of infection, but if it turns out to be the case we will take further steps to make sure it doesn’t spread”