MANSEHRA, Dec 28: Follow-ing the outbreak of virus in the Hazara region, the wildlife department has closed Asia’s biggest Dodial Pheasantry in Mansehra for the public to prevent the spread of bird-flu among exotic species of pheasants, Dawn has learnt.

Dodial Pheasantry was established in 1984 to save the rare species.

Talking to Dawn, district forest officer wildlife Said Kamal said that the Pheasantry staff had been provided safety uniforms and the entry of visitors had been restricted.

He said that anti-viral spray was being used and birds found with ailment or weak had been separated from normal birds.

Mr Kamal said that pamphlets and other written material had been distributed in Mansehra and Battagram districts, asking people to report any case of death of birds. He said that so far no cases of death had been reported.

He said that over 5,000 people visited the pheasantry daily to see 45 rare species out of 52 species of pheasants found in the world.

He said the pheasantry housed about 3,000 rare birds of various species, including ring-necked, wood green, white, silver, golden, yellow golden, Lady Amberst, cheer, reeves, Nepal Kaleeji, white-crested Kaleeji, Temminick’s Tragopan, Satyar Tragopan, Edward, brown-eared, blue-eared, white-eared, grey peacock, Hume’s Bar-tailed, Siames firback, Mikado, Elliot’s, Imperial, Swinhoe, Monal, Koklass, Indian red jungle fowl, blue peacock, pied peacock, white peacock and black-shouldered peacock.