Why So Many Birds are Dying at Sambhar, Rajasthan?

A large number of ornithologists, environmentalists and people in authority are on alert as many species of birds are found dead around the areas in Sambhar Lake. So far, at least 18,000 birds belonging to various species have died mysteriously. Most of these birds are waterfowl including tufted duck, Kentish plover, pied avocet, Brahminy duck, and northern shoveller. Sambhar attracts thousands of migratory birds every year, it is the largest inland saltwater lake in India that spans across 230 sq km of area.

The carcasses are mostly being buried in the ground in the nearby locations, some of them have been buried in Nagaur and Jaipur as well. The sudden death of a huge number of birds has certainly got many officials and relevant departments worried. The efforts to save the rest have also been started and a very small amount of birds has been saved as well. However, thousands of birds are already dead and speculations are rife that whatever the cause of this internecion could infect human beings as well if the situation is not controlled in time.

What is causing the death?

According to the tidings, investigations are going on and a few reasons have been suggested by the experts. The primary one is said to be ‘avian botulism’, which is a paralytic disease mostly found in the waterfowl. Avian Botulism is a very well-known disease among vets, bird watchers, hunters, and wildlife managers. As per the reports, this disease causes approximately 1,000,000 waterbird deaths every year across the globe. However, this is probably the first time that this disease has (purportedly) caused so many bird deaths in India.

Avian Botulism is mostly dominant North American wetlands that have stagnant and shallow waterways. With low oxygen and sources of protein, these waterbodies provide ideal conditions for Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNt) of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that renders the birds dead. The findings on this disease suggest that it is not contagious and rather happens because of the consumption of maggots or fish infected with the toxin. That is the reason it affects the waterfowl mostly. We can be sure about the cause of death once all the institutions that have been roped in for research release their reports.

So far, Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (RAJUVAS) and the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) have backed the theory of avian botulism. The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board have partially agreed to this theory. The other institutes involved in the investigation are the Sambhar Salt Limited joint venture, the Bombay Natural History Society, the Salim Al Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute.

Is Sambhar dangerous for birds?

Being a stagnant saltwater body, Sambhar could be a perfect breeding place for the (BoNt) toxin. This year, heavy rains lasted for a longer duration and this results in the reduction of salinity in water. However, once the water is evaporated, the remaining aqua becomes more saline, especially at the edges. Apart from the government-commissioned Hindustan Salts Ltd (HSL), there are many illegal salting mines in the lake. Following the deaths, the authorities in HSL have stopped the salt production on the outbreak locations until further notice.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had decreed to stall the allotment of any more salt pans for avoiding the negative impacts on the environment in the year 2016. Sambhar has also been recognized as a UNESCO Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) and has become a prominent spot for bird-watching for tourists. As per the findings from the health index report of 100 major wetlands in India released by the government, Sambhar Lake got the lowest rating “E”. It means that the lake needs immediate cleaning and other measures for the sustenance of the ecosystem of the area.

Is the situation grave enough for everyone?

Situations like these put our attitude towards the wildlife and environment on a test. The concerned ministries and environmentalists have raised their concerns about this issue. However, the deaths of thousands of birds may not become an alarming situation in India unless it starts to affect human life. Recently, we all saw and read about the agitations by environmentalists and commoners in the Aarey Colony in Mumbai. It became national news and even celebrities participated in the demonstrations against the cutting of trees. We do not see the same level of propaganda building around this issue probably because the death of birds is not affecting us directly or it is happening in faraway places from human settlements.

However, officials claim that the count of dead birds is declining day by day and we hope that appropriate measures are taken for the sustenance of wildlife in Rajasthan.