Death of 15 birds in Gwalior Zoo rings alarm bells

Gwalior, Oct 21 (IANS) The death of 15 birds over the last three days in the local Gandhi Zoological Garden has created panic among the zoo authorities here.

As a precautionary measure, the management has sealed off the avian wing at the zoo. Viscera samples of the dead birds will be sent for tests.

According to zoo sources, a majority of the birds who died between Tuesday evening and Thursday evening were migratory painted storks (mycteria leucocephala), mostly found in the Jammu and Kashmir region.

The avian wing staff has been instructed to take special care and use masks before visiting the area.

Confirming the deaths, zoo doctor Upendra Kumar said on Friday: "Samples of their viscera are being sent for tests. The reason of the deaths can be established only after the reports come in."