by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of migratory birds were found dead around a lake in India's western state of Rajasthan, officials said on Tuesday.
The carcasses of over 10 species of migratory birds, according to officials, were found scattered along the banks of Sambhar Salt Lake, about 80 km southwest of the Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan.
Sambhar Salt Lake is India's largest inland salt lake.
"Primarily it does not look deaths of birds have been caused by hunting. It could be a region specific reason," Sanjay Kaushik, a local government official said. "The deaths are being probed to ascertain the actual cause."
According to Kaushik, over 1,000 birds have died around the lake. However, locals put the number of deaths around 5,000.
Officials have collected the viscera of birds to test them in order to ascertain the actual cause of their death.
"A medical team comprising of ornithologists from Jaipur collected few carcasses and water samples," an official said. "The samples are being sent to Bhopal for further examination."
Officials said while the exact reason for the deaths was uncertain, there was possibility that deaths might have caused due to contamination in lake water.
"Things will become clear after the arrival of reports," Kaushik said.
According to locals, the carcasses are scattered in the entire catchment area of the lake.
"It is for the first time that we are witnessing deaths of birds around the lake and at this scale," Atul Singh, a local bird watcher said. "There are carcasses of plovers, common coot, black winged stilt, northern shovelers, ruddy shelduck, and pied avocet scattered."
The lake which is protected as a world heritage site also hosts flamingos, stilts, stints, garganey, gulls and a number of other bird species.
Locals said the carcasses were collected in a tractor-trolley and buried in a ditch. However, many lay strewn around in the wetland.
Reports said this is the second case of bird deaths in the state. Last week around three dozen demoiselle cranes were found dead in Jodhpur's Khinchan area.
According to forest department officials, every year thousands of migratory birds, majority of them flamingos and waders, arrive at the lake to spend winters. The migratory birds from Siberia, Mongolia and other places arrive at the Salt lake in November and stay until March.
Forest department officials said between 20 to 25 bird species are found around the lake during winter period.
