A tragic incident of mass bird mortality has shaken the forest division of Barwaha in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district. More than 200 birds, including parrots, pigeons, diamond doves, and sparrows, were discovered dead near Navghat Khedi, with veterinary experts suspecting food poisoning as the primary cause.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The grim discovery unfolded over two days. Wildlife warden Tony Sharma informed media that the incident first came to light on Monday when approximately 25 dead parrots were found under an aqueduct bridge near Navghat Khedi. The scale of the tragedy escalated rapidly. By Monday evening, the death toll had risen to nearly 80 birds. By Tuesday, the number had crossed the shocking mark of over 200 deceased birds.
Postmortem Findings Point to Poison
Samples from the dead parrots were collected and sent for examination. Veterinarian Dr. Manisha Chauhan shared critical findings from the postmortem with TOI. The examination revealed rice and small stones in the large and small intestines of the parrots, with their digestive tracts showing severe damage. Dr. Chauhan noted that due to severe congestion, both the intestines and the liver had turned completely red.
Based on these observations, Dr. Chauhan and senior veterinary doctor Dr. Suresh Baghel provided a preliminary opinion that the birds died from food poisoning. Dr. Chauhan explicitly ruled out cold weather or any other disease as potential causes. She added that postmortem examinations of the deceased pigeons, diamond doves, and sparrows would be conducted on Wednesday for further investigation.
Authorities Investigate, Foul Play Suspected
Forest ranger Nishant Doshi confirmed he was informed about the incident and is awaiting the official postmortem report to decide on the next course of action. Meanwhile, Wildlife Warden Tony Sharma raised a significant concern. He expressed suspicion that the incident could be part of a deliberate act, noting that parrots often cause damage to fruit orchards in the area. "Poisoning cannot be ruled out at this stage," Sharma stated, hinting at a possible conspiracy.
The incident has cast a pall over the local ecosystem in the Barwaha forest division. As authorities await further test results, the mysterious deaths of over 200 birds underscore the vulnerability of local wildlife and the urgent need to determine the exact source of the contamination.
