Crow deaths: Central team lands in Chilika

BHUBANESWAR: As the State Government waited for the advisory from the Centre for its next course of action in Mayurbhanj, a two-member Central surveillance team visited the Chilika lagoon in its bid to track the avian influenza virus.Since the lake is being thronged by migratory birds, the team tried to ascertain if any unusual mortality of birds has taken place in the past few days. They also wanted to know if the Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary officials have received reports of crow mortality.The team went to Nalabana Bird Sanctuary and sought to know why the crow numbers are so low in the island. The wildlife officials explained that the submersible island is sparsely inhabited by crows. The team went to Kalijai island where there was a large gathering because of Makara Sankranti festival and it attracted crows too.The Government has been anxious over the source of the virus and the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development department has expectedly asked its Forest counterpart to keep a watch on the birding cites. Chilika alone attracted over 8.83 lakh birds this winter. The wildlife officials have sent blood samples and swab from birds to the Bhopal-based high security lab but no test result has come as yet, Divisional Forest Officer of Chilika B K Acharya said.Crow mortality has, however, continued to be a headache for the Government. On Monday alone, 100-odd deaths were reported, 22 of them from Bhadrak.