All over the world, Excessive Pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) is inflicting mass mortality in wild birds. The outbreak which started in 2021 is the worst avian influenza epidemic in historical past. The illness attributable to a virus that has advanced in poultry farming, spreads by way of hen droppings, water, and direct contact. The present virus seems to have tailored to wild birds. Consequently, waterbirds and seabirds have been significantly badly hit, along with birds of prey and scavengers.
Since March 2023, hundreds of birds have been reported lifeless off the coasts of Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. In line with native authorities, these deaths have been attributed to the outbreak of avian influenza within the area.
In Senegal, the outbreak has killed greater than 600 Royal & Caspian terns (Thalasseus maxima) and Gray-headed Gulls (Larus cirrocephalus) within the Langue de Barbarie (northern area of Senegal), 200 in Lac Rose and about 100 in Yoff Island (Dakar area) and within the south area of the nation (in Casamance specifically in Kalissaye) the state of affairs is alarming with 92 lifeless birds, most of that are Royal and Caspian terns in line with analyses by the laboratory of the Regional Analysis Centre for Ecotoxicology and Environmental Security (CERES LOCUSTOX).
Gray-headed Gull, copyright Michael Southcott, from the surfbirds galleries
Two years in the past, this paradise for migratory birds made the headlines in Senegal on account of an outbreak of the avian flu. “This January 23, 2021, following a patrol by the brokers of the Djoudj Nationwide Chook Park, it was discovered that 750 white pelicans died, together with 740 younger and 10 adults” introduced a press release obtained from the Communication Division of the Ministry of Atmosphere and Sustainable Growth on the time.
Aliou Ba, Government Director of the Nature Communauté et Développement (NCD), and BirdLife Associate mentioned, “It’s deplorable to witness such a catastrophe taking place once more. NCD, emphasizes the significance of implementing the monitoring plan of the avian flu in Senegal.”
In Bantambur in neighbouring Guinea-Bissau, the figures are extra alarming, together with 1071 Royal Terns (Thalasseus maxima) , 44 Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne Caspia), One Widespread Tern (Stern hirundo) , One Gray-headed Gull (Larus cirrocephalus) , Two Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei), One Nice Cormorant (Phalocrocorax carbo), and One Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrte munachus)
In Gambia’s Bijol Islands, a part of the Tanji River Karinti Chook Sanctuary, a number of birds have been affected in two offshore islands, house to many migratory hen species. In line with an April 15th nationwide state of affairs report for the reason that affirmation of H5N1 outbreak, 6945 had died within the nation. For the reason that outbreak West African Chook Examine Affiliation (WABSA) has been working with Division of Parks & Wildlife Administration (DPWM) to watch Significance Chook Areas in coastal areas supported by Conservation with out Borders and DPWM. The workforce performed a monitoring and filming for consciousness creation within the island. 107 birds had been discovered lifeless within the island and the workforce buried all of the dying birds, with two royal terns discovered (with ring quantity 7177574 museum SC NAT 1000 Brussels) and (ring quantity 1380142 Vogeltrek stations ARN HEM Holland).
“BirdLife reaffirms its dedication to its strategic companions, particularly NCD in Senegal, ODZH in Guinea-Bissau and WABSA in The Gambia, to search out collectively the mandatory methods and means to watch and lift consciousness of the inhabitants on this excessive pathogenic avian influenza and what to do in face of untamed birds’ dying. The hen safety efforts we now have been making for years in West Africa are already paying a heavy value for this outbreak”, famous Geoffroy Citegeste East Atlantic Flyway Initiative (EAFI) Supervisor for BirdLife Worldwide in Africa.
BirdLife’s Response
BirdLife companions alongside the East Atlantic Flyway have been activated their area people community to watch and alert the authority on the deaths of wilds birds out and in of the Essential Birds and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs).
BirdLife in partnership with Wetlands Worldwide, le Partenariat Régional pour la Conservation de la zone côtière et Marine (PRCM) and Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, we’re supporting the nation to watch the breeding colonial birds in Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea Bissau by the Coastal Waterbirds and Wetlands Motion Plan (PAZHOC). This mission covers these three nations that are house to very important coastal wetlands for migratory birds in addition to native breeding colonies of birds in mangroves and islands. A coordinated colonial breeding birds is deliberate for mid-Might 2023 within the three nations.
BirdLife Africa can also be calling on the Senegalese, Mauritanian, Gambian and Guinean Bissau governments to strengthen management measures together with the avian flu emergency plan, monitoring protected areas, and taking measures to cease unfold of the virus to poultry farms situated close to wetlands.
BirdLife and companions are monitoring the virus in birds and the setting, as there may be want to grasp which species are affected and the conservation impacts on them. Testing birds which might be discovered lifeless is important, not solely to grasp the consequences on their inhabitants and replica, but additionally to rule out different causes of mass mortality equivalent to botulism and storms at sea. Additional, there may be additionally want to higher perceive how the virus spreads and evolves as present monitoring is essentially focussed on detection of the virus to evaluate the danger of it spreading to poultry farms, with this sort of monitoring not suited for safety of untamed birds populations.
