Jaipur

Following the tragic death of over 40 migratory birds from two to three different species at Rajasthan’s Sambhar Lake, Jaipur District Collector convened a meeting to address how to better protect these visiting birds. The Collector emphasized the need for immediate actions to care for and safeguard the birds arriving at the lake.

He instructed municipal officials to improve cleanliness in and around the lake, address the drainage of polluted water, and limit the use of single-use plastics. The Sub-Divisional Officer was directed to coordinate rescue efforts across all departments and to promote tourism, engaging bird enthusiasts in these initiatives.

Officials from the Animal Husbandry Department were tasked with developing guidelines for disposing of dead birds and training personnel in the area on how to treat injured birds. Sambhar Salt Limited was urged to contribute resources to the rescue operations, while the Forest Department was instructed to establish a temporary bird rescue center.

The District Collector appointed the District Forest Officer as the nodal officer for bird conservation in the area. Weekly inspections by district-level officials and daily checks by local officers were mandated to ensure ongoing oversight. Preliminary examinations suggest that the birds may have died from avian botulism, a serious illness linked to low-oxygen conditions. This is not the first incident; in 2019, over 18,000 migratory birds succumbed to the same disease in the region.