KARACHI, Nov 8: The Sindh government is preparing a contingency plan to protect animals from viral infections in the wake of a viral attack that killed 86 ibex in the Khirthar National Park last year. This was stated by Sindh Minister for Wildlife Dr Daya Ram in response to a query by legislator Arif Mustafa Jatoi during the question hour in the provincial assembly on Monday.

The minister confirmed that the viral infection spread among ibex in the Khirthar National Park (KNP) from Sept 20 to Nov 30, 2009, killing a total of 86 ibex.

The virus, first time reported in wild population in Pakistan, was identified as the PPR (Pests Des Petits Ruminants) virus through a DNA analysis in the Pakistan National Veterinary Laboratory, Islamabad.

Currently, the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) in collaboration with the provincial livestock department was working on various steps to save the remaining population from the virus, Dr Daya Ram said. However, in order to find out a permanent solution to the problem, the SWD was preparing a contingency plan in collaboration with the IUCN and the WWF-Pakistan, he added.

In his written answers to some related queries by the lawmaker, the minister recounted the measures taken by the SWD as a kind of preventive measures to stop the recurrence of the virus. He explained that steps were taken to clear the affected areas in particular and wildlife populated areas in general in the KNP from livestock grazing because the virus was reportedly transmitted from goats to Sindh ibex. Besides, 40,000 goats and sheep of the KNP, particularly in and around the affected area, were vaccinated with the technical assistance of the livestock department, he said.

The assembly was informed that steps were also taken to safeguard ponds and other water points in addition to mixing antibiotic medicines in them as suggested by veterinary doctors.

He also said that infected animals were kept in one area through local staff vigilance and regular patrolling and at the same time dead animals were removed and properly disposed of.

Apart from that temporary enclosures were constructed to keep the infected animals for vaccination and laboratory tests and sample collection, he said.

In addition, arrangements were made to facilitate visits of local and international wildlife experts to seek experts' opinion to mitigate the situation.

KNP vet lab project The assembly was further informed that PC-1 was under preparation for the establishment of a fully equipped veterinary laboratory in the KNP to handle such type of emergency situation in future.