Duck deaths: UT Wildlife Dept writes to CITCO

In the wake of 12 domesticated geese dying due to reportedly being fed oily eatables at Sukhna Lake, the Chandigarh Forest and Wildlife Department has written to the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation Limited (CITCO) to direct its staff, deputed at the club and cafe at the banks of the lake, not to feed leftover eatables to the water fowls.

Bipin Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 12

In the wake of 12 domesticated geese dying due to reportedly being fed oily eatables at Sukhna Lake, the Chandigarh Forest and Wildlife Department has written to the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation Limited (CITCO) to direct its staff, deputed at the club and cafe at the banks of the lake, not to feed leftover eatables to the water fowls.

The wildlife officials with the help of veterinarians from the Animal Husbandry Department have also sent blood samples of the birds to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Jalandhar, to ascertain the exact cause of their death.

Taking note of the incident, wildlife officials, on Friday, swung into action and wrote to the managing director (MD) and the general manager (GM) of the CITCO, besides the UT police chief regarding the issue.

Santosh Kumar, Chief Wildlife Warden, Chandigarh, claimed to have written to CITCO officials seeking directions to the employees posted at the restaurant, café and other business establishments at the banks of the lake to avoid feeding the water fowls with leftovers.

“I have also written to the UT police chief to enforce a ban on feeding ducks and other water fowls at the lake,” he claimed.

This is not the first time that geese have died at the lake in winters. In 2007, about 7-8 migratory birds had died and there were similar cases in 2013 too,” he claimed.

“The previous reports of the postmortem of the water fowls revealed death due to jaundice and swollen liver,” claimed Kumar.

This clearly indicates that the birds must have been fed junk and fried eatables leading to death, he added.

“We have asked vendors, selling grams, peanuts and other foodstuff at the entrance of Sukhna Lake, to shift from the area. Signboards were put up at different places to caution visitors on feeding the birds,” he claimed.

“No death was reported on Friday. We’ve sent the blood samples of the water fowls to the RDDL, Jalandhar, to know the exact cause of the death. The report is awaited,” said Kumar.

Don’t feed leftovers

The Wildlife Department has written to CITCO to direct its staff, deputed at the club and cafe at the banks of the lake, not to feed leftover eatables to water fowls.

Blood samples negative

Dr Lovelesh Kant Gupta, joint director of the Animal Husbandry Department, Chandigarh, however, confirmed that the blood samples of the dead birds, tested at the RDDL in Jalandhar, were found negative for the avian influenza.