47 peacocks die of Newcastle disease in Tharparkar

15 Jun, 2013

ISLAMABAD: At least two more peacocks have died due to a contagious disease as the death toll has reached to 47 in last eight days in Tharparkar.

According to private news channel, the peacocks died of Newcastle disease, locally known as 'Ranikhet' while several others are also reported to be infected.

The disease-inflicted birds had stopped drinking water a few days ago. The Wildlife Department has confirmed the deaths of the eight peacocks.

Dozens of other peacocks were also suffering the same disease and it was feared that toll may rise further as no step had been taken to overcome the problem.

On the other hand the wildlife department officials claimed that they had started vaccination of the peacocks and solid steps were being taken to bring Ranikhet under control.

Last year, when Newcastle disease virus (NDV) killed more than 300 peacocks in different parts of Tharparkar

According to a rough estimate, there are more than 40,000 wild peacocks in Tharparkar but their number is declining because of poaching and lack of effective conservation.

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