Endangered storks found dead
By Li Qian |
November 17, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
VOLUNTEERS found 60 more bird carcasses as they continue a campaign to save poisoned oriental storks, a protected species in China, in a wetland near a reservoir in Tianjin City, the Beijing News reported yesterday.
One oriental stork and a swan were found among the 60 carcasses. Wildlife animal protection volunteers have found 22 dead storks and rescued 13 others since they realized birds were being poisoned last Sunday, the report said.
Due to habitat loss and hunting, the oriental stork is classified as endangered on the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species. There are now only 2,500 to 3,000 oriental storks in China. They are large white birds with black wings.
Highly poisonous pesticides have been found in reeds close to the reservoir, which is a winter habitat for some migratory birds.
Mo Xunqiang, member of a non-government wildlife rescue team, told the newspaper he has seen many dead fish and birds in the wetland.
Volunteers said they had found six bags of carbamate pesticides, but police didn't confirm whether the birds were killed by this as they were awaiting further test results on water samples. Police are also working to trace the perpetrators, the report said.
Carbamate pesticides are used to control insects and even a small amount can be fatal to humans.
The volunteers suspect illegal hunters placed the poison to kill the birds, possibly to sell them to restaurants. Police are investigating, the report said.
One oriental stork and a swan were found among the 60 carcasses. Wildlife animal protection volunteers have found 22 dead storks and rescued 13 others since they realized birds were being poisoned last Sunday, the report said.
Due to habitat loss and hunting, the oriental stork is classified as endangered on the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species. There are now only 2,500 to 3,000 oriental storks in China. They are large white birds with black wings.
Highly poisonous pesticides have been found in reeds close to the reservoir, which is a winter habitat for some migratory birds.
Mo Xunqiang, member of a non-government wildlife rescue team, told the newspaper he has seen many dead fish and birds in the wetland.
Volunteers said they had found six bags of carbamate pesticides, but police didn't confirm whether the birds were killed by this as they were awaiting further test results on water samples. Police are also working to trace the perpetrators, the report said.
Carbamate pesticides are used to control insects and even a small amount can be fatal to humans.
The volunteers suspect illegal hunters placed the poison to kill the birds, possibly to sell them to restaurants. Police are investigating, the report said.
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