MITHI: The mysterious virus that had killed several hundred peafowl in Thar in different spans of time in the past has again hit parts of the district with reports of at least 50 birds falling prey to it over the past few days.

Salim Samejo, Sajan, Mohen Lal and Aijaz Bajeer were among the villagers who on Saturday reported death of more than 50 peafowl in Sobhiar, Saghro, Baghliar and several other villages of Mithi and Diplo talukas over the last three days.

They told the media that sudden death of many peafowl at a time was a normal phenomenon as the known virus, Ranikhet (or Newcastle) had already been identified as the killer disease in fowls. However, they said, prompt action by the relevant departments could control the disease. They expressed their concern over the non-responsive attitude of the officials concerned towards the distress calls they had already made. No team of experts and professionals had been sent to the affected villages to save a large number of ailing peafowl, they said.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2018