January 31, 2014 - ASIA - The following constitutes the latest incidents of mass animal, bird and fish die-offs across Asia:
Hundreds Of Turtles Washing Ashore Dead Along East Coast Of India.
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Hundreds of Olive Ridley Turtles washed ashore dead along the Bay of Bengal coast in Krishna district.
Photo: T. Appala Naidu |
Hundreds of dead Olive Ridley Turtles are getting washed ashore along the Krishna district coastline of Bay of Bengal after getting trapped in the nets of fishermen.
The 115-km coast of the district serves as an ideal nesting ground for turtles. The dead turtles can be found in large numbers between Gilakaladindi Harbour and Manginapudi.
Unsafe practices
Unfriendly fishing practices are posing a major threat to Olive Ridley Turtles, which are classified as ‘vulnerable’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Around 250 boats, including 150 small engine boats, are operating from Gilakaladindi harbour and not even 10 per cent of them are equipped with Turtle Excluder Device (TED), despite repeated appeals by the authorities.
The TED allows the turtle that get trapped in the fishing net to escape safely.
Appeals to use the TED is falling on deaf ears of boat operators, leading to sharp rise in death toll of turtles.
No data
The Fisheries Department officials are not bothered about turtles and never insisted on use of TED by the boat operators, operating from Gilakaladindi harbour.
When asked about the number of boats equipped with TED, Harbour Fisheries Development Officer B. Raj Kumar told The Hindu that the department had no data and did not moot the issue with fishermen till date. Many boat operators said that they were releasing the turtles into sea when they were found in their nets .
Rookeries
The Wildlife Management Division, Eluru, in support of Yanadi tribal people set up four rookeries for the conservation of the turtles at Jinakapalem, Sangameswaram, Lighthouse area and Eelachetladibba, which is heart of the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, in Krishna district. -
The Hindu.
TONS Of Fish Found Dead In Two Dams In Bandung Regency, Indonesia.
Tons of fish cultivated at the Cirata and Saguling dams in West Bandung regency, West Java, died due to the impacts of extreme weather in the regency over the last few days.
“The deaths [of the fish], which were sparked by the absence of sunlight, caused fish farmers in the Cirata and Saguling dams to suffer losses estimated at billions of rupiah,” Sundaya, a representative of the local fish farming association, said on Monday as quoted by Antara.
He added that the lack of sunlight reduced the oxygen content in water, making it difficult for the fish to breathe, leading them to die. “Additionally, the high intensity of rainfall caused water from the bottom of dams, containing sediment and mud and the remains of fish food, to rise to the surface,” said Sundaya.
That, according to him, resulted in the creation of toxic conditions in which the fish could not survive for long, even types of fish that have the power to survive in various climate conditions. “For example, the fish of the tilapia species died because of [these conditions], even though they are classified as strong fish,” he said.
It was also feared that the extreme weather could spark virus attacks. “It’s difficult to detect infections from viruses, which usually attack the fish’s gills,” Sundaya said.
His association therefore demanded support from the local government to help farmers overcome the impacts of the extreme weather. -
The Jakarta Post.
475,000 Birds Killed, 1.75 MILLION More To Be Killed Due To Outbreak Of Avian Flu In North Jeolla, South Korea.
The government is considering imposing a lockdown at all poultry farms throughout the country as avian influenza was showing signs of further spreading, officials said Sunday.
A nationwide lockdown, if issued, will prohibit the movement of any poultry, workers or vehicles from farms for 48 hours. Such a move can be extended once for another 48 hours.
Such a move will create what health authorities here have called a "window of opportunity" to sterilize all poultry farms at the same time and thus prevent a further spread of the disease.
The consideration for such a move apparently comes as the animal disease is fast spreading to surrounding areas from Gochang in North Jeolla Province, where the first outbreak of AI was confirmed Jan. 17.
The government had imposed a 48-hour lockdown at all poultry farms in Gochang soon after the first outbreak of AI was confirmed.
The number of confirmed AI cases has since reached 18 with the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of the virus confirmed in the latest case at a chicken farm in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province on Saturday.
A new suspected case was reported earlier in the day at a duck farm in Cheonnan, located only some 80 kilometers south of Seoul, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a press release.
Tests were under way in an additional 21 suspected cases as of Sunday.
Some 470,000 birds, mostly ducks, have been slaughtered so far.
Over 1.74 million others are set to be culled as the government has decided to also destroy chickens at all farms within 3 kilometers from affected farms after it confirmed the first outbreak of bird flu in chickens Saturday. -
The Korea Herald.
10 TONS Of Fish Die Suddenly In Lake Maninau, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
About 10 tons of fish types of goldfish and tilapia in floating cages Maninjau, Agam regency, West Sumatra (West Sumatra), died suddenly due to high winds that hit the area.
Head of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DKP) Agam, Ermanto in Lubukbasung on Wednesday said the death of fish due to high winds that occurred a few days ago.
"The wind blows the water resulted in a reversal of the lake bottom to the water surface, so that the air in the bottom of the lake into a vacuum," he said.
He said dozens of tonnes of dead fish is the highest in the region Bayua and lascivious.
"This fish is dead since a few days ago in some floating net cages owned by farmers," said Ermanto.
As a result of this incident, the farmers suffered a loss of about Rp260 million, due to the price of fish in the market around Rp26.000 per kilogram.
To overcome this, Ermanto said, farmers are encouraged to stop stocking and immediate early harvest so that the other fish do not die.
Then, turn on the oxygen pump that has been given to the fishermen Agam DKP by 30 units in 2013, stop feeding for a while and others.
Previously, DKP Agam has given a circular to farmers to reduce seeding in August 2013 until January 2014, because at that time extreme weather that resulted in water rising to the surface and tubo Balerang.
"This circular every year we provide to the public with the aim that the farmers do not experience substantial losses. Yet people ignore these calls," he said.
He said, KJA fish deaths in Lake Maninjau reduced in each year, as many as 15,000 tons in 2008, then 2009 was 15,000 tons, 500 tons in 2010.
In 2011 as much as 500 tons, and 300 tons in 2012 and 2013 dropped to eight tons.
A farmer in floating cages Bayau, Amin, said he suffered a loss of tens of millions of dollars.
"Average dead fish ready for harvest. Myself pick two units of fish cages almost died. Cages can be harvested one ton of fish to reach a size of 8x10 meter cages," he said.
He said at present there are about Maninjau 16.000an floating net cages. Each farmer has about 4-10 cages. -
Antara News. [Antara News]
10,000 Chickens Die Suddenly Due To Avian Flu In Kudat, Malaysia.
A total of 10,000 chickens died suddenly in some cage farm in the hamlet Gebot, Muktisari Village, District Cipaku, Kudat District during the last three days. Locals fret for fear of causing death allegedly by the H5N1 virus or bird flu.
One of the cattle owner, you Suhanda say, chicken livestock deaths have occurred during the three days. Each chicken flocks are dead, can reach thousands of head simultaneously.
"Death does not know what the cause is. Fact been found in dead chickens in the thousands tails. There is a cage running out at once," you clearly when questioned on Thursday (23/01/2014).
According to you, the symptoms of chicken that died initially as fever. A few hours later, the chickens were found dead. Almost ten cages total contents of 10,000 laying hens all died. "Laying hens that died when priced I could reach hundreds of millions of dollars," he said.
Meanwhile, some officials of the Animal Husbandry Department Kudat, immediately took some samples of the chickens that died suddenly. Starting from dirt, saliva, and eye examinations chicken.
"Samples will be analyzed in the laboratory. Currently we can not conclude whether or not the bird flu positive. Indeed, if there are symptoms with the sudden death of chickens simultaneously," explains Wasdi, Chief District Veterinary Office Kudat.
In addition to sampling, Wasdi said, it also gives the vaccine to the farm cages. The move was done so that the spread of the virus is not widespread. In fact, some of the workers at the farm was required so that the spread of the virus sterilization is not transmissible to humans.
"In addition to spraying the vaccine, we also conduct sterilization to humans. If the result is still waiting for the lab," he said.
This incident alarmed some other chicken farmers and local residents. Moreover, the spread of this dangerous virus can be deadly to humans. -
Kompas. [Translated]
Hundreds Of Chickens Die Suddenly In Madiun County, Indonesia.
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| Illustration. (AFP PHOTOS / Andreas Fitri Atmoko) |
Hundreds of chickens owned by residents in the village Glonggong, Candimulyo, and Kradinan, Madiun, East Java, died suddenly discovered that allegedly caused the bird flu virus.
"I was shocked, as was already seen many dead. Approximately chicken types Bangkok more than 25 dead tail," said Jauhari, Glonggong Village residents, District Dolopo Wednesday.
According to him, dozens of chickens that died this tail has a characteristic blue head. In fact, the day before the condition of the pet chicken is relatively healthy.
Meanwhile, the condition of the other chickens are still alive is equally alarming. Comb chickens bluish, swollen eyes, and beak out of mucus mixed with blood. The disease is also known to attack other chickens belonging to her neighbors.
Jauhari claimed loss because the rooster kind Bangkoknya worth millions of dollars. However, he could not do much and the chickens must be willing to be destroyed by burning.
The same thing is expressed by villagers Sukemi Kradinan. Since the last three days, dozens of his chickens and other citizens, died suddenly every day.
Residents crowded-rama burn the chicken carcass so as not to infect other chickens are still healthy.
"We also have to report to the relevant agencies for immediate action from the bird flu disease," said Sukemi.
Meanwhile, Mantri Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Madison County Supeno said it could not confirm whether the hundreds of chickens died from bird flu virus attacks. That's because it is still awaiting the results of laboratory tests.
"To ascertain the cause of death of chickens, we have taken samples and sent to the laboratory. Still waiting for the result," said Supeno.
Besides burning infected chicken carcasses, it also asked the breeder chickens, ducks, and birds in the area to clean pet cages regularly.
Relevant government officers also spraying disinfectant on chicken coops and duck's in a number of locations in order to prevent bird flu or H5N1 virus in the local area.
As for the poultry population in accordance with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries records of local, free-range chicken reaches 1.5 million birds, 200 thousand chickens laying hens, broiler 400 thousand chickens, ducks and 70,000 of the tail. -
Antara News. [Translated]
