Bird Flu Strikes Endangered S.African Cormorants
Muhammad Irfan Published October 27, 2021 | 08:48 PM
Bird flu is ravaging South Africa's endangered Cape cormorants, killing as much as five percent of the world's remaining population, a conservation group said Wednesday
Johannesburg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2021 ) :Bird flu is ravaging South Africa's endangered Cape cormorants, killing as much as five percent of the world's remaining population, a conservation group said Wednesday.
"We know that we have over 12,000 dead cormorants so far, which is most likely under reported," said Katta Ludynia, research manager for the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.
The long-necked birds live along the coast from South Africa to Angola, and they number only 234,000 adults.
About 500 are dying every day from avian influenza, but not all beaches are monitored and some corpses may have washed out to sea, Ludynia said.
The strain of bird flu is not dangerous to humans, but spreads quickly through cormorant colonies.
The deaths include many chicks, as this is the breeding season.
The bird flu outbreak comes as cormorants are already under pressure from declining fish stocks, especially those of sardines.
Lack of food may have weakened their defences, helping to account for the high death toll.
Early this year, hundreds of cormorant chicks were abandoned in a startling incident that conservationists said may have also been caused by hunger.
"There is very high commercial fishing pressure on sardines, but there have also been environmental pressures related to climate change," Ludynia said.
Bird flu cannot be treated in cormorants. Ludynia said the only solution is to stop the spread by removing carcasses quickly and euthanising birds that show symptoms before they can spread it further.
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From World
-
Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform
3 hours ago -
NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky
3 hours ago -
US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package
3 hours ago -
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
4 hours ago -
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
4 hours ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
4 hours ago
-
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
4 hours ago -
Man sets self on fire outside Trump trial
4 hours ago -
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
6 hours ago -
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
6 hours ago -
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
6 hours ago -
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
6 hours ago