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10 more ibexes die in Khirthar National Park

By Amar Guriro

KARACHI: The viral infection that spread in the protected Khirthar National Park, has still not been tackled effectively, as within the last two days, 10 more Sindh Ibexes died, raising the death toll to 72 since September 25. Wildlife department officials say that this is the first time that such a virus has hit the park and also that the situation is almost under control.

The viral disease, Peste-de-Petits Ruminants (PPR), that was diagnosed by DNA testing, started infecting animals in the first portion of the park and later spread to all the population of the park, which comprises of almost 1,7000 animals. In about one month, approximately 62 animals were reported dead, however, during the last two days, the wildlife staff found 10 corpses of ibexes near Janako watering point.

Initially the department’s officials suspected that the animals were affected by pneumonia but later, after suspecting a virus, they ordered DNA tests from an Islamabad laboratory, which declared that PPR was the cause of the animal’s death.

The officials further said that they have taken measures so that other animals do not get the disease, which include the vaccination of animals, cordoning off areas to restrict the affected animals’ movement, keeping sick animals in quarantine, as well as adding medicine to the animals’ watering holes.

“The virus’s cycle is complete and now the death rate is slowing down, while no new cases of the disease have been reported. However, animals that had contracted the disease earlier are now dying. We are hoping that what passed was the worst of the attack,” said Sindh Wildlife Department Conservator Hussain Bux Bhaagat.

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