In the early morning of December 9, in order to prevent the occurrence of similar poisoning deaths of Oriental storks or other migratory birds, volunteers of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) in Tianjin went to several key areas of Ninghe District and Binhai New Area early in the morning for patrols.
According to a volunteer who has been participating in patrols since the migratory bird migration season this winter, the Tianjin police specifically told him that the case of the eight Oriental storks’ poisonings that had occurred on December 4 had been resolved the previous morning. After repeated investigations and verifications by the police for several days and nights, it has been initially determined that the reason is that after the owner of the fishpond removed the fish in the pond this winter, he overdosed the medicine, resulting in the death of the eight Oriental storks and some other birds.
“If it was overdose, the fish may be poisoned, it may also cause more Oriental storks or migratory birds to die. This tragedy should be prevented from happening again,” the CBCGDF volunteer said. They planned to visit the incident site and several important habitats of Oriental storks around as soon as possible.
In the highway in Ninghe District, volunteers again found that the pond had a large amount of dead fish floating during patrols. In general, these fish are an important food source for Oriental storks. However, just a few days ago, there were not so many dead fish in this fishpond. "It is hoped relevant authorities can clear these poisoned dead fishes as soon as possible, otherwise it will be a fatal threat to the Oriental storks and other migratory birds left here." Volunteers were very concerned about this hidden danger and immediately made their findings reported to the local authorities that they are eagerly expected to carry out field cleanup as soon as possible.
In the afternoon of the same day, the forestry department of Ninghe District, Tianjin quickly launched an operation to clean up, bury and cover a large number of dead fish around the fishpond where the collective poisoning of Oriental storks occurred, to avoid the recurrence of similar tragedies.
Although unfortunately, when the volunteers patrolled the fishpond in the Binhai New Area that afternoon, two Oriental storks suspected of poisoning were found again, and they were finally confirmed to have died. Volunteers chose to call the police.
According to a preliminary estimate by the CBCGDF, this fall and winter migration season, at the junction of Tianjin and Hebei, fifteen Oriental storks who died of suspected poisoning have reached. Oriental stork, a globally endangered species, is a national-level protected animal. The latest global statistics show that the number of Oriental storks is currently less than 4,000.
(Photo credit: CBCGDF)
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/10662.html
By / Maggie