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80 birds die of coccidiosis at Jallo Park

* Park head says disease now under control
* Another 12 birds ‘killed by stray cat’
* Two peahens lost in open habitat, found next day

By Anwer Hussain Sumra

LAHORE: Eighty birds in Jallo Park died of coccidiosis, a bacterial disease, during the last week, officials at the park told Daily Times on Saturday.

Wildlife Assistant Director and park in-charge Anwer Maan said only 25 to 30 birds had died of the disease.

The officials, asking not to be named because they were not authorised to talk to the media, said the birds – peacocks, pheasants and their chicks – had died because they had not been given anti-biotic medicine on time and their cages were overcrowded.

“The disease spreads in humid weather if birds do not go through the anti-biotic medicine courses on time,” a consultant at the Veterinary Research Institute Lahore said. He said it was a curable disease and could be overcome if precautionary measures are taken ahead of humid weather.

Disease controlled: The park in-charge said the anti-biotic medicine courses were carried out immediately after the symptoms had been found. The disease had been controlled, he added.

The consultant said unhygienic conditions and overcrowding in cages could also spur the spread of coccidiosis. The park in-charge said the birds had been kept together because it was the breading season.

Stray cat: Another official said that a stray cat killed 12 peacocks and pheasant’s chicks on Friday night in the nursery, as its fence was broken. He said the management suspended the farm attendant after the incident.

The park in-charge denied the incident, but confirmed that the farm attendant had been suspended “because of negligence at duty”.

Lost and found: The park official said two peahens were lost a few days ago when they were released in open habitat during the visit of the Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries secretary. The park in-charge said the misplaced peahens were traced out the next day.

He said 10 to 15 peahens were being trained and would be released in open habitat after their wings had been cut.

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