Kerala lacks quarantine centres for birds

ALAPPUZHA: Following the outbreak of bird flu, it has become risky to conduct commercial transport of birds, including pets, in Kerala due to the absence of effective observatory units and quarantine centres.

In Alappuzha itself, there are  several pet bird centres which import birds from abroad flouting all norms.

According to the World Health Organisation fact sheet, bird flu viruses can spread from farm to farm by the movement of live birds, people with contaminated clothes, contaminated vehicles, equipment, feed and cages.

Mr V. Brahmanandan, director, animal husbandry department, told Deccan Chronicle  that the state had no quarantine centre to check  the commercial transport of birds.

Dr. Leo Joseph, director, centre for advanced studies in poultry science, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), said  setting up of quarantine centres for  poultry and animals was  not easy.

But  the government can set up such centres for the limited commercial transport of birds. At present, most of the commercial transport goes unchecked in the state.

Dr B. Unnikrishnan, secretary, Kottayam Nature Society, who has been conducting studies of migratory birds and commercial transport of birds for over a decade, said, “We have already reported to the Kerala forest and wildlife department several instances of selling rare species of birds.

The birds are  being imported from abroad and other states,” he said. Murughan, a pet bird seller in Kayamkulam, said  his nursery had more than 30 international varieties of birds, including from Indonesia  and  Europe, which he bought from clients.