BANGALORE: The migration of Sri Lanka-bound birds from China across the Himalayas, and their stopovers in Karnataka have raised fears of the prospect of outbreak of avian flu in the State.

`No ground to panic'

There is no ground to panic, says Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) A.K. Verma as the International Conservation Union (IUCN) and BirdLife International, Wetlands International and other organisations have come out with policy statements and recommendations to be followed.

He was speaking to the press in connection with the National Seminar on Bird Ecology and Conservation beginning here on Sunday.

Assessment

There is a fairly accurate assessment of the current level of risk, and fortunately in Karnataka the favourite places that attract "suspect" migratory birds such as Bar-headed Geese and other waterfowl, which are known to the large community of committed birdwatchers, ornithologists, wildlife experts and Forest Department officials. About 20 "hotspots" that the Bar-headed geese visit, in their thousands around Bangalore, Mandya, Mysore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Belgaum, and Tumkur are being monitored closely as the birds will begin arriving in India in 15 days, Mr. Verma said.

The Hoskote tank, Thippagondanahalli reservoir, and Karanjikere in Mysore are among the tanks that will be watched closely.

Session

The seminar has a session devoted to avian flu and how to tackle it. S. Sridhar of the Institute for Natural Resources Conservation, Education, Research and Training (INCERT), who is organising the conference, said the geese that had been found dead in China in May were those that were returning from migration for breeding.

Concern

The real cause for concern will be if they were carriers of the H5N1 virus.

Mr. Verma said in anticipation of an eventuality, veterinary doctors, and Forest Department personnel are likely to come in contact with the wild birds.

They have all been trained already. Wild birds dying or seen falling sick must be reported immediately and the areas sanitised and people in the area quarantined.

The departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Poultry, and Forest have been trained in safe collection of samples and the rule is no bird should be shot at without informing the appropriate authorities, he said.

42 papers

The seminar will feature 42 papers covering themes like Wetlands and Waterfowl, Bird Diversity and Conservation, Applied Ornithology, Bird Biology and Behaviour.

There will be a special student session, and an interesting highlight is a visit to the Bangalore University's Jnanabharati Campus, which has a bio-park developed by former Environment Secretary A.N. Yellappa Reddy. It has grabbed the imagination of ornithologists across the country for a rich diversity in birds coming to the water bodies on the campus.

The Forest Department, the Karnataka State Biodiversity Board, the University of Agricultural Sciences Department of Forestry, the Institute of Wood Science Technology and Eco-Watch, are collaborating in organising the conference.

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