Rare birds found poisoned in desert
A number of rare birds have been found poisoned in a Jordanian desert
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Monday, 27, Oct 2008 09:06
A number of rare birds have been found poisoned in a Jordanian desert, experts have announced.
The three critically endangered northern bald ibis were tracked from their breeding ground in Birecik, south-eastern Turkey, to the remote desert 20 miles from the Jordanian capital Amman.
Despite the fact they were found near electricity pylons, subsequent tests ruled out their deaths as being caused by electrocution or shooting.
Instead, experts believe the birds were killed by poison and think it may have been laid by chicken farmers trying to kill rodents.
Jose Tavares, the RSPB's country programme's officer for Turkey, said: "These deaths are heartbreaking but the birds may not have died in vain. They came from a semi-captive population and the fact that they left the colony proves they haven't lost their migratory instincts.
"The birds flew via Palmyra in Syria, where a tiny colony hangs on, which means birds we release from Turkey next year could join the group in Syria. And, most importantly, we may at last have discovered why young birds rarely if ever return to their breeding grounds. It is a tragedy now but the project could still end in triumph."
The northern bald ibis is one of the rarest birds in the world, with just six specimens known of in Syria and fewer than 500 combined in Turkey and Morocco.
Taner Hatipoglu, a vet from the Turkish government, added: "The deaths of the birds are very serious but we are still hopeful because they all proved they could migrate without any parental guidance."